Flight times for visitations

[amberlea434]

Thanks, guys.

 

[Humusluvr]

How about this for an email reply:

Ex,

You are right. I'm very sorry about the inconvenience to you on this particular occasion, and I hope that you will be able to make suitable arrangements for (eight-month-old) by summer's end. Truthfully, when I booked these flights I was thinking only of (nine-year-old) and what arrangements would allow her the most quality time with me this summer.

I will be more mindful of selecting flight times convenient to you in the future.

Regards,
Dad


Ignore the threat of court. Save the mention of costs to reschedule the flight for the next round, if there is one.

AWWW!!! I LIKE YOURS!

And I totally concur on the leaving out the court talk. Just stirs the pot and gives her ideas.

I had thought of a funny, confrontational email too.

Dear Ex,

When I had planned flights for our daughter back in February, I thought we both understood what the times were.

If you want to change the times on the flight, its $100. You can pay it.

Or you could take the $100, and get a babysitter. Or buy your boyfriend some dinner and a twelve pack, and maybe he'll stay home with YOUR kid.

Or take the $100, and retain your lawyer, but you're gonna need more than $100 when you have to pay mine too.

So, you decide.

Love ya!
Me

 

[proud_parent]

AWWW!!! I LIKE YOURS!

And I totally concur on the leaving out the court talk. Just stirs the pot and gives her ideas.

I had thought of a funny, confrontational email too.

Dear Ex,

When I had planned flights for our daughter back in February, I thought we both understood what the times were.

If you want to change the times on the flight, its $100. You can pay it.

Or you could take the $100, and get a babysitter. Or buy your boyfriend some dinner and a twelve pack, and maybe he'll stay home with YOUR kid.

Or take the $100, and retain your lawyer, but you're gonna need more than $100 when you have to pay mine too.

So, you decide.

Love ya!
Me

I like yours too! That's exactly what the devil on my shoulder would say.

Maybe it's all that time spent in family counseling w/ DH and SD, but I tend to fall back on techniques of defusing, stroking, "I" statements when there's a conflict.

If done well, they really can work.
And if done really well, they can make the target of technique look like a jackass without reflecting negatively on the person using the technique. Bonus!

 

[Luckiecatt]

How about this for an email reply:

Ex,

You are right. I'm very sorry about the inconvenience to you on this particular occasion, and I hope that you will be able to make suitable arrangements for (eight-month-old) by summer's end. Truthfully, when I booked these flights I was thinking only of (nine-year-old) and what arrangements would allow her the most quality time with me this summer.

I will be more mindful of selecting flight times convenient to you in the future.

Regards,
Dad


Ignore the threat of court. Save the mention of costs to reschedule the flight for the next round, if there is one.

I actually like this approach. Its not agreeing to alter anything for this trip (which is kind of late to request a change since she has known since Feb.) and its not belittling the mother at all for appearing to put her newest daughter ahead of the 9 year old (which would fuel the fire).