This weekend, DH took SSs by himself to the family cabin in the woods. Every time he goes away with just SSs he will - at some point during the time away - tell me that SSs are driving him crazy. This time he told me that he wished he had only brought one because all they do is fight with one another and complain. I know this is normal behavior for kids their age, but I want to say to DH, "if you don't like being around them, how do you think I feel?"

The irony is that the kid DH would like to take is the one who is not enmeshed with BM and therefore causes less drama, but this kid is not cut out for outdoor living. This cabin is located in an area that is a natural habitat for rattlesnakes. The last time we were out there, DH killed one (it was not a close encounter, they saw it from the car and DH went back and killed it). Now, this SS won't go anywhere outside because he is afraid of rattlesnakes (he's in high school, not a young child), so he just sits inside and looks at his phone. Mind you, this is the only rattlesnake DH has seen out there in about 7 years, so the place is not overrun with them. This SS has also has now decided he likes to wear sandals, so he left for the family cabin this weekend in his sandals, with no other shoes. Not exactly appropriate foot wear for tramping around in the woods.

Next time DH complains that I "don't like the children", I'll remind him that even he struggles to enjoy being around them.