10:00 a.m.
Just returned from the doctor's office. Butterfly and Johnny both had physicals. They both were at 97th percentile for height and weight. The both got shots. There the similarity ended...
Johnny was such a little man about the whole thing. He was quiet and attentive, smiling at the nurses as they poked and measured. When he got his shot, he hopped up on the counter and presented his leg with no hesitation. When the needle went in, he squeezed his eyes shut for a second and then peeked out of one eye. Laughing, he exclaimed, "That didn't hurt me! I'm brave!!".
Butterfly did not cooperate. She started screaming when she saw me sign the consent form. The needles weren't in the room yet, but she remembered the forms from Echo's appointment. As the nurse began to lay everything out, Butterfly climbed under the chair and wedged herself in. She was pushing against the legs of the chair with her arms and legs and it took me nearly five minutes to get her out. I literally had to drag her kicking and screaming to the table. I ended up having to lay on top of her... It took all my strength to keep her from moving. The good news is that she is done until she turns 14.
I know I complain a lot about Mike's ex here, but there is some reasoning behind it. Of course, I get a chance to blow off steam. More importantly, I have a written, dated record of her involvement with the girls should we ever have to go back to court.
Tuesday: She didn't take them for her scheduled visitation. She had to work and said that they didn't allow her to request a night off, even for court ordered visitation. She did talk to the girls on the phone and they reminded her about parent night Thursday. She told them she had requested the night off of work the week before so that she could go with them. (I thought she couldn't request certain days off???)
Wednesday: The girls said that the class with the most parents at parent night got a pizza party. They were very excited, but said their mom wouldn't go if I went. I told them to double check with her. If she wasn't going, I would go. They called her and she said absolutely she would be there.
Thursday: The weekend visitation begins at 5:30. Julie called and said she needed the girls early so that they would have time to eat before the school activities started at 6. Before they left for their mom's, Mica called her mom and asked her again if she was SURE that they were going. Julie said yes. So, I left and took the boys to the store. When I got home, Mike said that Mica had called. Their mom refused to go ~ could I please call her. Well, by then it was too late. The thing was over.
HELLO! I know that going to the school and putting in an appearance isn't the most exciting thing to do. But if it is something that the kids are excited and pumped up about for weeks, why not just do it? If she didn't want to go, why not say that so that Mike or I could go instead? The girls get so nervous whenever they think that their mom is going to be in the same place with us. I can understand that. She acts inappropriately and gets extremely loud. So I make a point of trying not to 'step on Julie's toes'. If she expresses any interest in their activities, etc. I back off and let her go. Whenever she doesn't feel like it, I step up and do whatever 'mom' thing needs to be done.
I don't understand why we can't work together for the girls' sake. Why lie over and over? Why make promises you have no intention of keeping? I am sure that if she had said, 'I don't want to go. I'd rather spend the time with you. Maybe your Dad or Kristal could go instead?' the girls would have been fine with that. They could have stayed with her and we would have gone. They would have gotten their points for the pizza party. The school would be happy that a parent showed up. Everyone comes out a winner.