DH is currently driving SS the four hours back to BM's house to conclude our Thanksgiving visit. All in all, it was a perfect week. SS was very well mannered and had a really great time. I think him arriving empty handed from BMs really helped - no perfume covered stuffed animal to remind him of home. 

We had a really nice Thanksgiving. We decorated the Christmas tree, played some football outside, and SS even played with DD9months. He spent a lot of the week fawning all over her, tickling her, clapping his hands and playing patty cake and trying to entertain her with her toys. It was a sweet sight to see since he has had very little time with her since her birth. 

BM and GF called SS on Thanksgiving, but all they talked to him about was fantasy football. We were driving to family's house when they called so SS couldn't hide in his room to talk to BM. 

We did have a hiccup yesterday though. Our state's football team and BM's state's football team were playing and SS wanted to watch. Well, BM's State, who was predicted to win, lost by a landslide. At the end of the game, SS broke down crying and told DH that he was going upstairs to take a nap. He refused to talk to either of us but was visibly very upset. 

Folks, this is what PAS does to an innocent kid. When BM moved out-of-state in 2017, she basically brainwashed SS into forgetting everything about his life in our state. She kept trying to convince him that everything in their new state was so much better and far more superior to make SS more okay with the move. So now, SS is very defensive over his home state and when he can, belittles our state, in loyalty of BM.  Like I told DH last night, SS crying had nothing to do with football. It had everything to do with the fact that if BM's state's team lost, then it proves that BM's state isn't as superior as BM brainwashed SS to believe, making BM wrong, which isn't possible in the eyes of a PASed kid. This wasn't about two sports teams, this became an issue of BM versus DH, which is why SS cried and put himself to bed. I hate that this kid has such bad loyalty binds. 

SS did eventually come down and we tried to distract with holiday activities. After DD went to bed, we made gingerbread houses and watched the new Santa Clauses series on Disney+. We seemed to salvage the night and SS was in a much better mood. Before he left today, he gave me a huge hug and said "Thank you" for all the fun. All in all, it was a good visit and we will see SS again for the second half of Christmas break.