Kickoff

At ten to midnight I got a call from my ex, asking me to pick up my eldest son.  I headed out, and my youngest came along for the ride.  We discussed depressing topics, but he's got a wicked sense of humour, so my mood ironically improved thanks to the discussion.

At 12:01 I was across town, picking my eldest's drunk teenage ass up. 

On the way home, we stopped for pizza, and ran into someone who worked for a long time in the shop next to the shop my ex manages.  She hugged us all, wished us a Happy New Year, and asked if I would be upset if she bought my eldest a beer.  I said I didn't think it was a good idea - we were already sitting in a restaurant section that had closed at 8pm, drinking free pop and eating pizza only due to the good graces of the woman who took our "take out" order.  I would have said no in any circumstance, but there were even more reasons in the current one.

She stayed and talked, the topic of parental restrictions and discipline continuing.  At one point, she said, "Your mom's a lot stricter than your dad, isn't she?"

"Yeah, I'd always live at my dad's if I could."

"I don't blame you.  I've seen some of the things she's done to you.  I'd never do that to my kids.  You guys need to have some freedoms."

It just reminds one that sooner or later the whole world sees people for who they are.  I never have to worry about looking bad in comparison to my ex as a parent.