Not happy to see us - just need to vent

[mace17]

I just need to vent about something that happened, or rather didn't happen, this past weekend.  My S8 and I went to visit family in another state for the weekend, H didn't come along because he had tickets to a baseball game Friday night.  Me and S8 had a great time, we camped in a local county park, visited with family, and just enjoyed hanging out together.  In fact, S8 commented that we have more fun without dad because when dad is there, its all about dad. 

So we get home Sunday evening, and H was there to say hi, asked how our weekend was, helped bring in a few things from the camper, and then went back inside and ignored both of us for the rest of the evening, watching tv and playing on our son's tablet, which apparently he missed more than either one of us.  S8 and I finished cleaning the camper, did laundry, walked the dog, made supper, and played some frisbee.  I enjoyed spending even more time with him, but I had thought that maybe H would want to spend time with him because he hadn't seen him all weekend. S8 wasn't disappointed or anything, this is the way things usually are, but it still hurts me for him because it seems like H doesn't really care much and wasn't happy to see him.  I know there's not much that can be done, but I just had to vent... . thanks for listening.

[mace17]

Thinking about it, it almost seemed like he was irritated that we had a good weekend together without him.  H did do a lot of cleaning while I was gone, and I thanked him for it and told him I appreciated it, but it still seemed like he was jealous that me and S8 had fun without him, so he had to sulk.

[3 children]

Been there felt that.   My wife will often say let's go out front.  (To me and kids). Funny thing I play volleyball with d12 and frisbee with s5.  Amongst other games and sports. She will sit on porch texting facebooking and whatever else she does.   No interaction with any of us.   I remember one time throwing a baseball to my s5 so he could hit it.  He was hitting the ball and very well.  So repeatedly asked wife to watch ... . She would look up then back down... . Missing him hitting the ball at least 4 or 5 times.   I would ask "did I you see that he's doing so well!"   Her "I missed it".  This went back and forth.   Many similar stories.   I almost feel like she would say "Let's go out front" because she knew I would interact and she could do what she wanted.   Not that it's a problem for me as far as interacting with them.  I do all the time because I love them and want to.   And want them to know I love them.   It's just sad that she doesn't.  I know it's "normal" for my kids too.  But I also know they fully feel that mom is rarely involved and that it hurts on some level. 

[3 children]

Now that I think about it a little more my wife has always criticized me for not spending enough "alone" time with kids.   I agree but it seems to never work out.  I will plan it and then something always seems to get in the way of it.   "Oh why don't we all go?" Or it won't work until later because I have this,  that or the other,  and then the days over.   I pretty much gave up on that long ago.   

In fact today we all had plans.  Wife and I are not good this weekend.  She said to take them by myself,  but she has also said (because of this weeks flavor of the week issue) that not only am I against her but the kids are all against her too.   It's a big family conspiracy plotted against her.  Wow really. "We are all against you?"  Doesn't even make sense.  It's because we all have separate opinions and none of them agree with hers.  Needless to say going away for day with kids was for sure a bad idea.  They were not happy about it.  I took the day off to do it and been planning it for a week.  Chalk up another ruined day of family fun.   And chalk one up for more heartache and disappointment.

[mace17]

Right now I am very angry. I've been good and kept my mouth shut, but I'm angry. While my son and I were gone this weekend, my H did some grocery shopping. I have no idea what else he got, but he got 2 bottles of pineapple juice. Several months ago, he saw an article that said drinking pineapple juice makes a man... . well, taste better. So he was drinking pineapple juice the whole time I was gone. Tonight my done was thirsty, and I realized there was no more of the juice I usually buy him to drink. So apparently my H just bought the pineapple juice hoping to get a bj and didn't care about what his son might need. Add that to barely saying hi to him when we got home and I'm pissed! He thinks only of himself and his needs all the time and I'm so sick of it!