Entry tags:
It's a little bit funny/this feeling inside
It's not amusement, but my sense of irony is tickled.
It's not disappointment, because although it is a bit of a surprise, it wasn't unexpected.
It's not resignation, because the outcome is as it should be.
Rather, it's a motley mix of all three and I'm not sure if knowing this and accepting it is a sign of wisdom or arrogance on my part.
You see, after the kiddo opened the present we had told him FIVE TIMES he could not keep because of content AND we had bought him what he wanted at Target to make up for the fact, Wolf and I took all his toys away. Same thing happened last year, for a similar reason. He opened something we told him not to. The blatant defiance and deviousness is what he's being punished for.
I had to call the grandparents and explain the situation to them, then inform them that any presents he got this past weekend would be left at their houses until his birthday, which is less then a month away. Long time for a kiddo? Maybe. I know my sense of time was pretty skewed at that age. He wasn't being denied presents. Christmas wasn't cancelled. He could play with them until it was time to go. He has "grandparent" toys that must be left behind, the gifts would simply fall into that category temporarily.
My mother, while a little upset about it, agreed graciously. I'm guessing it's because she doesn't approve of Power Rangers either.
Ex-Mom-in-Law got on my case. On the phone and when I picked up my son. Asking me why and telling me how mean it was. I shrugged, looked her in the eye and told her it was my decision. Implied was she'd better go along with it, which she did, all the while expressing her discontent with looks and voice as she spoke to the kiddo. I did allow a write-on book to come home, simply for the educational value. The Thomas trains, Star Wars figures and a small red plane (which I suspect is another PR incarnation) were left. Naturally, the kiddo's face crumpled and he tried to cry. I told him gently but firmly to stop it. After all, he had been without toys for two days at our house and he should have learned the situation by now.
When the door shut behind us, I could almost HEAR the names and see the angry head shakes sent my way. Hence the feelings described above. One step forward, three steps back with these people. If Don hears about this, he'll chalk it up to me being a dirty little bitch, but he won't DO anything about it. After all, he still owes me about four years' worth of child support. If he can't be bothered to pay, then why should anyone believe that he actually cares?
*sigh* So far, so good. I expect that if things continue as they have been today, the kiddo will get his lightsaber back tonight. From there, every day with good manners and behavior will earn another toy or two.
Was it too harsh? Maybe. This Puck of mine has double the stubborness and quite a bit of his blood father's arrogant bad attitude. I will NOT let my son grow up to be an abuser. That's why I left Don in the first place. If harsh measures are needed now to prevent police intervention in the future, so mote it be.
It's not disappointment, because although it is a bit of a surprise, it wasn't unexpected.
It's not resignation, because the outcome is as it should be.
Rather, it's a motley mix of all three and I'm not sure if knowing this and accepting it is a sign of wisdom or arrogance on my part.
You see, after the kiddo opened the present we had told him FIVE TIMES he could not keep because of content AND we had bought him what he wanted at Target to make up for the fact, Wolf and I took all his toys away. Same thing happened last year, for a similar reason. He opened something we told him not to. The blatant defiance and deviousness is what he's being punished for.
I had to call the grandparents and explain the situation to them, then inform them that any presents he got this past weekend would be left at their houses until his birthday, which is less then a month away. Long time for a kiddo? Maybe. I know my sense of time was pretty skewed at that age. He wasn't being denied presents. Christmas wasn't cancelled. He could play with them until it was time to go. He has "grandparent" toys that must be left behind, the gifts would simply fall into that category temporarily.
My mother, while a little upset about it, agreed graciously. I'm guessing it's because she doesn't approve of Power Rangers either.
Ex-Mom-in-Law got on my case. On the phone and when I picked up my son. Asking me why and telling me how mean it was. I shrugged, looked her in the eye and told her it was my decision. Implied was she'd better go along with it, which she did, all the while expressing her discontent with looks and voice as she spoke to the kiddo. I did allow a write-on book to come home, simply for the educational value. The Thomas trains, Star Wars figures and a small red plane (which I suspect is another PR incarnation) were left. Naturally, the kiddo's face crumpled and he tried to cry. I told him gently but firmly to stop it. After all, he had been without toys for two days at our house and he should have learned the situation by now.
When the door shut behind us, I could almost HEAR the names and see the angry head shakes sent my way. Hence the feelings described above. One step forward, three steps back with these people. If Don hears about this, he'll chalk it up to me being a dirty little bitch, but he won't DO anything about it. After all, he still owes me about four years' worth of child support. If he can't be bothered to pay, then why should anyone believe that he actually cares?
*sigh* So far, so good. I expect that if things continue as they have been today, the kiddo will get his lightsaber back tonight. From there, every day with good manners and behavior will earn another toy or two.
Was it too harsh? Maybe. This Puck of mine has double the stubborness and quite a bit of his blood father's arrogant bad attitude. I will NOT let my son grow up to be an abuser. That's why I left Don in the first place. If harsh measures are needed now to prevent police intervention in the future, so mote it be.