Oh Dogg. How do I know what you are saying! They putter around the house all day while you work your a$$ off, stop on the way home for groceries, prep meals, deal with household chores, get the kids geared up for soccer, b ball, homework, quality time with them . . . whatever, trying to find 30 min in the day to do something you enjoy (like farting around with the boat for ex.

) while the best the GPs can come up with is griping when you
are together that you can't drop by and hang out a few times a week

.
Chrismas is a nightmare - time for some peace and soul searching - teaching and making the kids happy. How does it really go? Piling the poor little buggers in the car a lugging them from parent to parent because they can't seem to make the effort to come see you & the kids. Cats in the cradle & the silver spoon huh?
Ardy is quite right, I lost my mom a little more than a year ago and I miss her terribly. We were not a real tight family so I have my regrets but how do you find the balance and make the
grown ups remember how little family time is left at the end of a day?
Went down this road with my father which eventually led up a point where I told him - look your place is no farther from mine than mine is from yours and I welcome you, my stepmother and step sister any time but I am running wide a$$ open and I just can't spare the little time we have to relax - on running the roads. Haven't heard from him in probably 2 years now.

Whatever . . .
I've decided my time is better invested in my children than family that have the ability but not the motivation to spend some time. I'll have to live with my demons later - as will they. I guess those are the choices you make.
-End Rant-