BUT HE’S SUCH A NICE GUY

Our children live in scarcity Mindset Every day of their lives. How they break their nice things Because they don’t feel like they Deserve them. How they are mean to Each Other, Sometimes, Because they only want to feel better: If they can shift the pain onto Somebody else, Does that mean it went away, Even for a moment? Other people don’t know how I have to put cameras up all over My property, Just to keep you from driving Past The house Again, and again. People don’t know how you Took Our oldest son’s housekey from Him So that you could go through My home with your brother, “Just to check things out.” People don’t know that you Constantly talk about me to Others, And tell our kids schools that I’m not an “involved parent” Because they never see me at Parent Council meetings, Or volunteering during school Hours Like the other married moms Do. You aren’t working, so why Aren’t you there? Ex-husband Joining in the work I thought that you are an Involved parent. Only, why aren’t you working? Oh, because you don’t want to Pay your child support. To our kids. But, no, you are a marvel At juggling it all. All by yourself. Only, you don’t juggle any of it: I Do. I set up the doctors’ Appointments, And skip work and school To take our kids to them. All-the-while you sit on your Butt At home being a waste of skin. Also, I’m the one helping our Kids With their homework, And tutoring them at their Math, Late at night. When I am so tired I think I can’t take one more step. I am the one financially Supporting Their interests and needs, At home. At school. In daycare, afterschool Programs, and extracurricular Activities. I’m the one paying for that Class field trip, Or sending them with donuts to School, So that they can say thank you To their teacher For all that they do. I’m the one giving our kids’ service projects In the evening, Instead of TV before bed. I am teaching them the value of Their community. I am the one teaching them To bake cookies at night. For school. I am the one holding them in my Arms When they cry because it’s all TOO MUCH! I’m the one putting them into Therapy To help all their trauma It hurts so much that my eight-Year-old Told her teacher that she Wanted to die, I have another daughter Who rips her hair out of her Scalp, One hair at a time. I’m the one dropping our kids off At football practices, rugby, and Boxing. I am the one buying their Equipment, cleats, and jerseys And making sure that they have A bottle of water and a snack. Even on your parenting time Because you don’t want to. I am the one compensating for Your lack Thereof, As you complain and point at mine. Giving them rides, and making Excuses for you When you don’t show up for Them on time. I’m the one smoothing over the Loose ends And the wrinkles when you mess Things up. I am the one telling our kids that everything is going to be ok. But you are the hero, right? You are the one making yourself Visible. You “act” like a good father for The public eye, While not actually being one. You are the one doing nothing And complaining about Everything. Telling everybody that I don’t Update you Or inform you about events for Our kids: That’s why you don’t go! Yet, those very people don’t see All the emails, and events on the Joined calendar, And the alarmed reminders that I put on our joined app, So that it tells you on your Phone. You have no idea what is going On! Because of me. Every time I open my mouth to Ask for help, Or to tell people what Happening to us is, You blow up like a machine gun, And tell people that I am lying. You tell people that I am Discrediting you. You tell people that I am Sabotaging your character. Only, I’m not. I don’t have time to waste so Much effort. I don’t have ample hours of Nothing to do, Like you. The only person sabotaging is You. Everywhere you go. What’s worse, is that people Love a juicy bit of gossip. Nobody questions the funny Charismatic guy,