I caught the tail end of a radio announcement on the way to work this morning. I heard that the earned income credit is increasing from $1600 to $2000. I couldn't help but to think of BM. Her #1 concern in the custody hearings was that she and only she gets the EIC.

That means that she at least has a job unlike some BMs on this site but still. DH wanted SD 50% (not for EIC reasons) and BM made sure he didn't. BM also isn't married to her baby's dad and never will because she needs to play single mom on paper to get her benefits.

We had some very good friends over last night to BBQ and they brought their adorable puppy to play with our dogs. SD was over and dinner was awesome.

We got to talking. Our friends are on their second and third marriages and each have 3 kids from their previous marriages. The husband's first wife moved his daughters over 12 hours away before custody was established and apparently he couldn't file kidnapping charges. He was in the Navy so I don't know if BM used active military status to move away.

I'll try to be short and direct:

First, I've had baby fever for a little over a year. I love kids. SD12 is catching onto this and asked me this past weekend if dad and me are really planning on a baby soon. I said probably, yes.

Background: SD feels alienated in BM's home because she has a baby with the BF and doesn't allow SD to help out and be involved with baby and SD hardly interacts with the BF so it's like 2 families under one roof. When/ if DH and I do have a baby, how can we reassure SD she's not being pushed out of "our" family.

Usually SD brings her laptop for the weekend but apparently she's grounded. Background: BM has full physical custody so takes SD to school everyday and gets all of the school info. DH always has to add his name to the school portal and contact list. BM doesn't think DH is important enough to share school info with and she always registers SD at school.