Sadly, he won't give up. He insists on keeping them away from their friends' birthday parties because it's "his" weekend. The reason? So that he can travel all over creation to force the childern into meeting his girlfriend and her kids.

Of course, when I first brought up the birthday parties, he said that he'd made a promise to the children to take them out biking. I guess that "promise" only matters when it suits him.

Sadly, I cannot protect the children from his insensitive, selfish behavior, and it is sad that he is creating something that will result in them resenting him and hating him even more than they currently do.

The best that I can say is that, at least, they have one parent who keeps her promises, one parent from whom they know what to expect, and one parent who is not making them feel like they are replaceable. I cannot help what happens during their time with him, but I can be here to help pick up the pieces of their innocent lives that are repeatedly shattered by his lies, selfishness, and hatred of me.

I feel your pain. When the parties are on "his time" make sure your children understand it is up to him and not you. Yes, he will disappoint them over and over. Do what you can on your time.

My lousy wants to pick the preschool for my 4 year old. He hasn't asked one question about the pending transition of my autistic son to kindergarten. All he cares about is that I won't give him an overnight during the school week. I am torn up over worries, meetings, special ED communications, paperwork, orientations which I don't involve him in and he hasn't asked. Really? I am trying to protect this child and he just wants his way which is not in the best interests of this child. Sad really. It all makes me want to cry when I look into my son's eyes and know this is happening. He is so innocent.

Men are not mothers and will never ever understand the responsibility we feel toward our children. Maybe some "get it" but most do not.
Lucky is the woman who marries the mature man who sees his kids as a gift from the Almighty. A gift that is to be loved and cherished and then let free with life lessons learned in the nest.
My ex saw the kids very different from me. He saw his daughter as one he should protect. He saw his son as a pal to compete with and show off for.
I did the often unpopular "parenting"

My EX keeps lying to the kids, saying that his new girlfriend "might" be at his parents' house when they visit - come on, my kids aren't stupid! The oldest one knows that she's being lied to and manipulated, and she just keeps hating him. The younger one follows the older one's lead.

Sadly, the EX is more concerned about sex and starting a new life (and trying to shove his kids into a situation that they aren't ready for), instead of taking time, actually getting to know them and spend time with them, and do what is THEIR best interest.

I really don't care that he lied, cheated, and was a complete jerk to me; however, I cannot stand how awful he is to our children. That I cannot forgive.

AMEN!

Ditto! Cannot forgive the abandonment of our children. There is NO excuse. NO excuse. WHERE have all the good men gone?