DH's mother and her new husband came to visit today, and, of course, they decided to tell heartwarming stories about their experiences with BM in the past. *sigh*

I mentioned that SS2's birthday was next month. So, MIL states that her DH knows it's SS2's birthday next month because both MIL and her DH went to an ultrasound appointment with BM when SS2 was still in the womb and that was the first time MIL's husband had ever heard a baby's heart beat. This occurred either during or after the divorce, by the way, as DH finally gave up on crazy BM during her pregnancy with SS2.

SS5 just informed us that he is supposed to help SS2 in the bathroom when he needs to go potty.

I am flabbergasted.

This is just my opinion, but a five year old has no business potty training a sibling and helping them wipe themselves afterwards.

We have had trouble with BM putting SS5 in charge of SS2, but this is sort of unbelievable. What the hell is she actually doing over there?

SS5 was extremely sullen toward me yesterday and refused to look at me unless he was asking for something. I thought it was strange, and assumed BM had been saying something crazy to him. I didn't want to tell DH, though, because I was worried he would think I was being paranoid.

WELL . . . After the skids left, DH told me that he and SS5 had THIS conversation in the car on the way back from school.

SS5: Why are you and my mommy separated? (we've never used that word in front of him and they have been DIVORCED for almost 4 years)

I have to start by saying that L, the woman I'm writing about, is not exactly a friend. She is an acquaintance only and not someone I would feel compelled to befriend. However, her situation is so bad that I am really hurting for her.

L's wedding was about 3 months ago. It was her first marriage with no previous children. Her now husband (here referred to as Prince Charming) has been divorced about two years and has 3 daughters from that marriage.