Clothing

This weekend went really well, the kids were having a fun time.
My ex asked to pick the kids up early because their Grandmother wanted to take them to see family up North.
I had no issues with this, I find it pretty funny though, of the three times I can recall someone asking my Ex for more time she has allowed it ZERO times I on the other hand have done it multiple times.
Let’s take a look at a comparison chart:

Chris	Christa
Situation Result Christa asks to take Max and Sam on a trip last year. ALLOWED Aunt Terri (Christa’s sister) asks to take the kids to see cousins.Situation ALLOWED Max is mad at me and feels bad about football and its demands ALLOWED Grandma wants to take the kids to see Aunt Terri and Uncle Russ ALLOWED	Situation Result My parents ask to take Max and Sam to the movies last year. DENIED Daughter and Son both ask to stay longer at my house because their week wasn’t long enough DENIED Daughter runs away from Christa’s house and then asks to spend the night at my house. DENIED

Now that’s a stark contrast!
My kids are the priority, it someone has a new experience or something fun to do — I let them go.
So Sunday I start getting a series of texts from the Ex.

Christa	Please make sure Sam and Max bring back their shorts! Sam has 1 skirt/tennis skirt when she should hv 5, so they hv to be there. Max has 3 pairs of shorts total here so again: they are at your place. I need these for their trip today & for camp. please respond you are putting them in car today w them.
(Now this just irritates me — first I don’t have all of the above clothing. Secondly, if I did have them that would mean she has an equal number of clothes from my house… Which I cannot even get her to return the proper two skirts my wife bought for Sam this year)
Me	You need to stop asking me to be helpful when you don’t reciprocate. You’ve denied my parents and my children’s requests to stay over here this is the thirst time I’ve made exceptions for you and your family and given up time. You should plan on having as much help from me as I get from you zero.
(Probably not my best thought out response — not one topic either looking back on it!)
Christa	What are you talking about? I haven’t ever received a request from your parents or I would do it. Same w you. So while you may want to paint it as my not being cooperative, its the opposite! I’m trying to be as fair as possible. Now today? All I need us their clothes back. I can’t keep buying clothes for over there, w the exception of bras- Sam bought a bunch of new ones over there that I paid for last week bc she didn’t want to bra shop w you. which is understandable. Short shorts and summer clothes tho need to be returned today for camp, please confirm. Thank in advance. Shorts and summer clothes tho need to be returned today for camp. please confirm. Thank in advance.
Christa	Its really not a difficult request. Please respond. Otherwise I am going to have to buy new clothes which I guess you can just reimburse me for?
(Now for me… This is the last straw. Here we go again as if you can bill a broke man because you say I have some clothes you are missing. I have returned everything multiple times I know of and I have gotten ZERO of my clothes back! Even worse, everything that goes over to her house she marks! Really? These are the kid’s clothes, not mine, not yours and you are going to suggest you’ll bill me? Really?)
Me	Good luck! I will point out that any clothes you are missing means there are an equal number at your house are mine ive already returned pants and shirts with only two skirts back do the math
Christa	Why does everything have to be a fight with you? All I’m asking for is you to check, just as I did for you last week. This combativeness serves noone, least of all the kids.
(Now I challenge anyone to read this as a request. It’s a demand followed by a threat. I didn’t start this dialog. Further, my request for my clothes resulted in ZERO clothes coming back to my house other than two skirts. I have two children if you are missing four outfits then I am missing the same. I compose my solution via e-mail.)

So here’s what I sent her via e-mail:
Christa,
I am so very tired of coping with you.
I really cannot state this clearly enough. For the last three weeks of school I was forced to have my daughter wear the same school skirt for the entire week washing it every other day because when I returned all “your” skirts I did not receive my skirts back. I asked politely multiple times to no avail.
This summer I finally received my two skirts back sans the shirts and clothes I sent both Max and Sam to summer school in.
Today I have received countless texts telling me I need to find and return whatever inventory of clothes or you will be charging me for whatever you deem missing.
I am done.
I have had the kids pack up all of the kids clothes. Since I have yet to receive the new skirts Tanasha paid for this year and have not received any of Max’s school clothes back from the summer school I just have no interest in debating, arguing, requesting or begging for my clothes back. You can have all of them, I am giving them to you. They will have ZERO change of clothes here so make sure you send them with clothes (I’ll make sure to get the back to you the very next week! All of them because now they really will be all yours!)
Also, Max informs me he has a new football team! The Bears! I am very excited to hear yet again you have enrolled him in an extracurricular activity that is physically demanding and creates an additional burden on him during his school year! Especially in light of the evaluators comments and concerns.
One less item for you to engage me over!
Regards,
Here response:
So rather than just look for the skorts and 2 pairs of shorts, you have the kids take every stitch of their clothes, put them in trash bags, and have bring them to my house? And then tell them to tell me that each week, they have to bring a suitcase with them back to your house or they will “just have to go to school naked.”
And the kids get in the car and ask, at 3PM, if they can have breakfast because you didn’t feed them?
What are you thinking?!?
So now its I didn’t feed them… They are twelve years old and have access to a stocked kitchen…. Fascinating.
They were too busy playing StarCraft as a family, yet now it’s I don’t feed them. Perfect! Well at least now there is no possible way for her to engage me about clothes. Check one more box off.