So the Ex had promised (yeah right)at time of divorce he would repair anything at house that had to do with our child or his stuff. Trouble is he says yeah, sure then comes up with excuse after excuse why he can't come round.
The tarp on the shelter covering son's ATVs is ripped? - sure, no probs,here is the size tarp to buy, then excuses.
The faucet in son's bathroom won't work? - will only take an hour to do/go buy the parts... then excuses.
His car has a squeeky brake pedal and taillight is out? Great father/son chore, just get the parts - do in a jiffy at my apt. Excuses...
Well, I used to bang my head against the wall trying to remind him of his promises, then tried having son text him when are we going to fix these things together Dad? Sadly the kid has experienced the extent of parent's empty promises.
Now, I let son try to connect with his dad once or twice just to say he got the opportunity to be more than a "dinner date" to his only child, then we buck up and fix it ourselves.
So far we have learned to change tarps despite scary heights on a ladder, replace two faucets, change taillights, lube car joints,repair dog kennels,build school props with drills and circular saws....all by ourselves or with the guidance of 82 y/o grandpa (nothing is more heartwarming than hearing grandpa from his seat in the bathroom bantering to his grandson who is working under the sink about what a basin wrench is for, the right way to put on plumber's tape, or watching grandpa pass tools back and forth to this grandson like an assistant.)
My child has learned he can do stuff, usefull stuff.Not just watch his dad do it all without letting him help and call it teaching. And my father and I get all the bonding time and laughs over our imperfect but quite functional repairs.
I,like many here, have learned to take on the teaching skills of both mother and father - so to the do-ers and bonders out there making well rounded kids. I salute you!
