The kids

My kids are the best thing that came out of my 20 year marriage. I love them very much but now they seem to think that because I'm not there 24/7 they can do what ever they please and that is the furthest for the truth. After all my kids have done since Angela and I have split and divorced has really disappointed me to no bounds. They have lost all common sense and don't have to fear any consequences because Angela is not the authority figure I was. I now realize that it was me who held the kids in check and they new there were consequences to there actions when I was living in the house. I didn't put up with crap and they new it. I had boundries that were not to be crossed. I wasn't a tyrant but I was tough and they new that their bad behavior was not tolerated. I did what I could to make my kids happy and appricate the things they have. We had pool parties with all there friends for all their B-days and for the Fourth of July or just whenever they said can we have a pool party. I 'd go to Sam's and buy the bugers and hotdogs and all the fixin's. I was very good with there friends but when Angela and split, she started to tell her friends lies about me, but a couple of them saw thru her lies and have continued to talk to me when I see them around at functions. My eldest has always been a drama queen and some what of a basket case. She takes everything personnally and holds grudges to the point of harming herself. She used to be a cutter and I asked her why and she said because the stress was getting to her about the divorce. I said but honey this is between your mom and me. There is no reason for you to do this, you may be upset but you can always come to talk to me anytime whether I'm here or not. I'm still your Dad and nothing is going to change that. My middle child also a daughter is more well adjusted, yes this the one who walked out on me at the townhouse. She has her moments of stupidity. Last September she stated to me she wanted to come live with me again but this time unfortunity I said no because I don't want to get burned again by her and her flip flopping. She asked me Why? I said I'm not going to back stabbed again by you. I told her she needs to work out her differences with her mom and stop acting a fool. She talked it out with her mom and everything blew over. Now my son who is the youngest and the biggest(Tall) of all my kids but also can be the biggest pain in the butt. I found out that just this year alone he has missed 70+ days of school and Failed for the year because Angela doesn't want to fight with my son in the morning and get him off to school. She doesn't realize that his mom not me, can be put in jail for him missing so many days of school and it seems Angela doesn't care. It seems whether he passes or not doesn't matter as long as I keep paying the support for the kids. I asked directly why don't you make him go to school and she replied that's his problem. I was like WOW. Why don't I do anything, she said and I replied you are the custodial parent, you are ultimately responsible for his educational needs but your failing in that respect. Angela has asked me to talk to him about schooland he says she lets him get away with it . I told regardless of what your mom does you should have a person goal to finish school and do the best you can because at his point your not graduating on time and going to college is forgone conclusion. I said to him he is messing with his future and it's not looking pretty. I was just told the school has a program for just this type of situation, next year he'll be going to high school for half the day them going to Marchmen for the rest of the day for vocational traing and if he passes both he'll graduate with his class next year and on time and with a skill that can be advanced thru going to college. Hopefully he'll get it done.