Tracy, rambling is in the eye of the beholder. and screw that, right.
your doing great. this is what i love when i work on something in public, is others go with it, apply it to themselves and proceed to work it out also. FANTASTIC. we all work together! nothing negative, just good hard learning. ah, im grateful.
look up emotional blackmail when you can for a refresher course. i need those occasionally..lol...like every day right.
it is the coldest, cruelest shit in the world to manipulate another. and using a child is a key thing.
i hate it, i pity the people who use it and need it. its so hard to handle.
im angry just knowing he is trying this shit with you and your kid.
and its all so intertwined...it all comes together as all kinds of stuff.
the thing to remember , so many forget, boundaries are not meant to change another. they are a fence around US, not another. so many get angry--"he crossed my boundary!" well doh, thats why their there. for us when it is crossed. some may be intentional, some may be untintentional, but none matter because we have things in place for just that! (hopefully lol)
i like how your handling it with your son. you know my granddaughter who is 9 now? she is now in counseling for depression and ODD. lovely eh. im surprised she didnt start this way back. her sperm donor does the same thing...uses her as a pawn. im sad he feels he NEEDS a pawn. what a jerk. why do they always hurt the kids? sighs. we will help her thru this. and him. they will be stronger for this.
i think you were spot on the point.

((Tracy)) great work.