In dealing with the BM for 2 years, I realized I've become a LOT more cynical, and opening my eyes as to how some people show their true colors, after that "friendly facade" comes crumbling down.

I'm learning quite a few lessons from my husband's ex wife. They share a 6 year old son.

I learned that when my husband gave his ex-wife the nickname, "Money-Me" (aka, $MM$) it was dead-on accurate. She cares only about her self and money, but who knows which order?!

I learned to anticipate a lot of the negative outbursts and behavior that come from $M$$ when she doesn't get her way.

I learned to think how to stay one step ahead of $M$$ when a situation may arise that could piss her off.

I learned that $MM$ will throw a monkey wrench into the plans that were already made, just because she can.

I learned to not mention to her son about future plans, because on a whim, she can change them just to spite it all.

I learned that $MM$ wants to make up the rules as she goes along, and gets pissed when my hubby balks at that idea.

I learned that she thinks the court approved parenting plan is just a "guideline" and doesn't HAVE to be followed.

I learned that my husband, who IS paying child support for their one child, is blamed by $MM$ for ALL of her financial problems. She lumps him in the same category as the deadbeat father of her 2 oldest children, who is over $10K in arrears. She also refuses to get in touch with her youngest daughter's father, for ANY child support.

I learned that $MM$ will never be satisfied with what she has. She had a very good husband who bent over backwards for her, and she threw it all away when he tried to reign in her bad spending habits.

I learned that she doesn't like to tell the WHOLE truth, and when she gets caught, she still doesn't believe any of it is her fault.

I learned that $MM$ believes what's medically better for her son, in spite of hubby telling her what the doctor advised about taking specific medicines.

I learned that $MM$ loves to 'work the system' and whines when the system actually works correctly, but not to her advantage!

I learned from my husband that there's really NO USE trying to reason with $MM$. She won't listen to reason and she has little common sense.

I learned from my MIL that after hubby brought $MM$ to meet his family for the first time, someone asked one of hubby's sisters what she thought of her new sister-in-law.
The reply was just one word: "Stupid."
When asked the same question months later the same sister said: "Still Stupid."

I learned that $MM$ told her son he did NOT have to listen to me or follow any rules at our house when he came over every other weekend.

I learned that she is envious of the fact that her son enjoys being at our house a lot more than she thought he would.

I learned that her son craves attention and negative attention is better than no attention from his mother.

I learned that her son is sincere when he says he doesn't want to go back to $MM$'s house on Sunday afternoon.

I learned that when $MM$ threw a fit in front of her son, tore in half paperwork handed to her and cussed out her son's father will be ingrained in her son's brain long after the fact.

I learned that she is crying hungry with a mouth full of food.

I learned that $MM$ is not the brightest penny in the wrapper!