Was I out of order?

[MrsSnape]

A few weeks ago I bought my kids loads of new clothes, nice smart ones and paid quite a bit for them too since they'd not had anything for a while.

Anyway, every fortnight they go to their dad's and he doesn't exactly encourage them to take care of stuff (he once took them to the park without making them change out of their new jeans...which inevitably came home all grass stained). So I don't normally allow them to wear their new clothes there...last weekend however my DS insisted on wearing his new wintery jumper so I said "ok, just don't let the cats scratch it". (his dad has two cats). It wasn't meant in a nasty way but you know what cats are like for getting their claws stuck into stuff and pulling etc...

So one of them went and told their dad what I'd said and his girlfriend was apparantly quite annoyed and said "oh for gods sake, they've never scratched you before" and she's been funny with me since.

Was I out of order?

No, I don't think so. I think maybe the telling of the story and the fact that he was telling it to dads girlfriend, didn't help! I'd have said the same thing. Do you usually get on with her?

why would you buy kids expensive smart clothes that they can't play in?

face to face we do but I think its more of a tolerance than anything else...she seems to hate me for some reason! One christmas I invited them both so that he could see the kids on christmas day and I was helping the kids unwrap a present and I looked up and she was staring right at me then looked away quick when I met her eyes I find her quite scarey lol

They have different clothes to play in, the smart clothes are more for when we go visiting or go out for a meal/into town etc but on this occasion he really wanted to wear his jumper.

I like your name btw, another HP fan I take it

it wouldn't let me have Mirtle with a 'y' tho

Lets face it, whatever you do or say, is probably gonna piss her off! Are you that bothered, that you could mention it to your ex and explain what you meant.

Mis-communication. You said to your ds not to let the cats scratch his jumper.
He said to his dad that the cats have not to scratch him.
Girlfriend took that as a slight on her (her cats?) as the cats have never scratched before and she took it that you are implying they might.

I would phone and explain and say sorry for any misunderstanding. Girlfriend would be taken aback by apology and probably apologise herself and relations would be better than they had been before.

Everyone is happy.

Unless you let pride get in the way.

wot rhubarb said.