So, after a long argument with DW and me sleeping on the couch one night because I was standing my ground on the issue, we have come to an agreement on the birthday issue (albeit not easily).

I agreed that this year we will do the joint party with MachineMan and family because now there is not enough time to reschedule. I can suck it up for a day, whatever. However, DW has agreed to speak with him about changing this in the future so one of them can do bfast, the other dinner and we don't have to "mix" the families. DW was not happy about this AT ALL, but she agreed to it. We will see if it happens. The excuses I was getting were terrific. "It's just that it would be nice to have a day where we weren't trying to figure out when she'd be with me and when she'd be with him." Well, if that was so much of a problem, you shouldn't have divorced him. That is what happens when you divorce, sorry. Among other things that were said essentially to the effect of how selfish I am. Whatever. I'm sick of being forced to act like one big happy family for SD8's sake.

So anyway, as SD8 was leaving us yesterday, DW says to her that we will see her on Tuesday. SD8 gets a confused look on her face.

SD: "What? Why?"

DW: "Well, it is your birthday so we will see you then"

SD: "But that is my day with Daaaaaady."

DW: "I want to see you on your birthday too. So we are going out to dinner."

SD: "I just celebrated my birthday with you, I'm celebrating with my Daaaaady on Tuesday."

DW: "We are going out to dinner with you."

SD: "So I'm having two dinners?"

DW: "No. We are meeting you, MachineMan, GF, and GFdaughter at the restaurant for dinner."

SD: "That doesn't make any sense."

DW: "Is that ok?"

SD: "Are Rhino and BS3 coming?"

DW: "Yes."

SD: "But it is supposed to be my time with Daaaaady, not you!"

DW: "Well we are all meeting up for dinner. You will still be with your dad."

SD: "This is confusing. I don't get it."

DW: "Get what?"

SD: "Why we are all going to the restaurant together."

From there they walked out the door to go shopping, and I didn't hear the rest of the conversation. But I want to think that maybe it opened DW's eyes a little that it is even stupid in SD8's eyes. But I doubt it.

In other news, we went on vacation. SD8 was actually pretty well behaved, I have to say. Monday and Tuesday were rough, but they always are when she comes back from MachineMan's house. I did have to hear about how unfair things are like 10,000 times from her, but DW usually put a stop to that pretty quick. (DW didn't want SD8 to ruin the vacation, remember). BS3 on the other hand was difficult - especially trying to get him to sleep. I guess the change to the routine was not working for him.