So many strange and weird things have happened since I last posted. I'll start off with telling you about Noora. Well, she called me. She called me a couple days after one of her awful emails. I thought that she was finally trying to take it up a notch. To be honest, I was really fed up with her anger or perhaps you could say transplanted anger. I was prepared to tell her that she was behaving abhorrishly and that she had no right to disrespect me this way. Oh yes, I was going to be her mother whether she liked it or not. But that's not what happened.

She called me crying....

Seems she got her report card and her marks were 75% and 83%. She brought her report card back to her father expecting him to be pleased. Yeah, it didn't work out that way. He was thoroughly disappointed. Ended up taking his wife out to dinner and not taking Noora. After they left, she called. I kept waiting for her to bring up the horrible emails....but she didn't. To be honest, during the conversation I felt like she was only using me to make herself feel better. She made a point of telling me that she said to her father..."If Mama saw my report card, she'd be proud of me".

We talked for 48 minutes or rather she did. The date was Oct 23rd, my oldest daughters 18th birthday.

Now fast forward just one day later....I get home from work and I'm told that Noora called and said that her father and her would be at the house in 2 hours. Luckily my brother and my niece are at the house. (my niece is the daughter of the EX's brother)

They show up to give Cleo her presents....and sadly, they appear to be "recycled" from a recent baby shower. Even the gift bag says, Congrats on the new addition!!! Her gifts include a photo album (with a little piece of wrapping paper stuck on the inside cover - baby bottles paper), a blank book with lined paper and a really nice laptop bag. Yep, those are her presents for her 18th bday. So disappointing.

When they arrived, my 13 yr old refused to go out and see either her father and didn't want to see her sister. She decided to remain in the basement so that when her sister walked in, she wouldn't have to talk to her. My 7 yr old also said that she didn't want to see her father. (but she caved in when he arrived) He also had some presents for the rest of them which consisted of mostly chocolates combined with some dollar store toys.

Noora goes out to talk to her father about her sister and then comes back in and says to me..."If she doesn't want to see me, let her come and tell me that" Well then guess what.....my younger daughter comes upstairs and tells Noora she doesn't want to talk to her or see her. Do you think it was that easy? Nope....it erupts into a yelling match..... You said this on MSN, you don't call me....I don't agree how you are hurting everyone....etc etc. Then Noora starts yelling "your mom is a liar, she's ruining your life..." I'm standing right there and I'm shocked? What? You called me crying yesterday!! and she says..."It was only because I was sad" (my mouth hung open) Then suddenly....one daughter is stomping downstairs in tears and the other is stomping out the door. I follow Noora out the door, because I'm full of anger and was about to yell at him....as I come out, I see him squatting down talking to Abdu on eye level.....Noora yells..."I WANT TO LEAVE NOW!"...he immediately stands up, pushes Abdu to the side and gets in the van....starts pulling out. (not saying bye to anyone, just immediately leaving)

And then I start....

"EVERYTIME YOU COME HERE YOU BRING DRAMA AND CHAOS. YOU CONTINUE TO HURT THE CHILDREN AND MAKE A MESS AND THEN LEAVE ME TO CLEAN IT UP!! (he's pulling out of the driveway now) WHY DON'T YOU BE A MAN AND GET OUT OF THE VAN AND TALK TO ME? IS THIS THE BEST YOU'LL EVER DO? (he turns up his music) ISN'T MUSIC HARAAM? (he's at the lights in front of the house and I walk over to the van...thinking crazy to kick the back of it but I don't) ISN'T MUSIC HARAAM? OR IS HARAAM ONLY FOR ME?"

Yeah, I was really mad. Even as he was driving away, I was looking for a rock to throw at the van. (but didn't)

~~~

So then mid week, he calls and talks to the 13 yr old. Probably 10 minutes in total, I think she said maybe 5 or 6 words, but her father talked and talked. One thing he said was..."You know that Noora is right, don't you?"

And here we are....at Friday and the phone is ringing. I'm holding it in my hand, surprised....and answer. It's the ex. He says to me..."Can I have the kids this weekend?" There is no strength in his voice....he sounds constricted and meek. It's very strange. If I didn't know it was him, I wouldn't have recognized his voice. I don't answer right away, but instead say many of the same things I yelled at the car telling him that I'm surprised he would want to take the kids when all he's done in his last "visits" is hurt them and make them feel awful. There is no joy when the kids know you are coming. I pause waiting for him to say something.....and then that constricted, meek voice repeats itself..."Can I have the kids this weekend?" I"m shocked again at the sound...and start off saying..."no, you can't and I think....." Click.

I didn't finish what I had to say, and I guess it really didn't matter because it really was a yes or no question.

But honestly, I'm haunted by that voice.....so strange. Like someone calling from their deathbed or who just had their nipples pierced....

Anyways.....such has been the last couple of weeks.....insert some family fun and joy...because we continue to function during this. Wednesday is family game night and it's been great. We've played Things, Trivial Pursuit, Scene it and we've got plenty more. (an amazing find at a thrift store AND on their half price day)

Life goes on!!