On top of being a total waste of human space, BM (I love that abbreviation because in my head it's 'bowel movement'...Which is fitting) is emotionally abusing her kids. This has been going in for a couple of years and it's really taking a toll in DH. While the kids are here, they are happy and engaging. But when mom picked them up after for her visit earlier this week (it's our half of summer) she broke down in tears (crocodile ones I assure you) and her oscer winning performance of "I just can't survive not seeing my kids for 7 days" caused SD5 to start to cry and appologize to her mother. Not one time in the week did she mention her mother other than in passing. No tears, no "I miss my mommy"... Nada. DH made sure the kids called womb-for-rent every other day while we were on vacation (not something she bothers to do for him) and not once did either girl act as though they were distraught over not seeing BM. So she keeps them for three days (even though she was only supposed to have them over night but that's another long story full of frustration) and when we pick them up SD5 starts crying. Mom starts crying and shouting "oh baby it's only for three days.. It's only three days!!! I'll miss you so much!! But it's only three days baby!!" This is not a new tactic but it's certainly escalated. DH is heart broken. He is a wonderful patient father and goes completely out of his was (and in debt) to make sure the girls have a great time here. He has his kids more than most dad's around here and is very very involved. It's hurts me that she is emotionally abusing the children (I adore my step kids and for over a year I actually had them more than both BM and DH) but it infuriates me that she is hurting the love off life. I know it's not the skids fault. Since we picked them up Thursday, sd5 has asked when mom will be getting her three times. Only when she's not active though. Yesterday we were out on the boat all day and not one mention of mom until it was time to get ready for bed. Just a few moments ago she asked dad what time mom was coming because she was bored (dad was playing with SD8 and I was working). There are so many other issues with this sperm dumpster but this one is immediate. I've spoken to DH about it but we both have no idea what to do about it. It's not like you can talk to her. Besides having the intelligence of wet noodles, she's hyper defensive all the time. She can not make a single suggestion with her blowing up. I'm sick over it. Anyone have any suggestion on how I can reassure my skids that mom isn't sitting at home starving herself and crying buckets (according to mutual friends, she's at the bar lol) without "bad mouthing" the poster child for abstinence?