#where you're expected to uproot your entire fucking life

[thewaythroughthewoods]

.

[nowandgenpad]

Texting || Gened

Gen: Are you busy?

Jared: Not right this second. What's up?

Gen: I was wondering if you, me and Chris could sit down and talk face to face about the schedule

Jared: Gen, I am not talking to your new husband about MY kids. He doesn't get a say. What happens with them is between you and me.

Gen: I allowed Lucy to have a say in things.

Gen: I always have done my best to include our children in the lives of their step and half sister and all I'm asking is that you have the same courtesy

Jared: That never once included moving halfway around the world for 4 fucking months a year!

Gen: But if you had I would have worked with you to find a schedule that works for everyone so you could have them wherever you were going. You're being stubborn. They wont be there the full 4 months. That's why I think we need to sit down as adults and deal with everything. Chris is part of our lives now, we should be a team.

Jared: I would never even consider moving them that far away from you. EVER! No, Chris is part of YOUR life, not mine! I will NOT have him included in ANY decision about my kids! Out of respect for you, I never once forced you to include Lucy, and I don't force you to include Katie.

Gen: Lucy was your wife, she became our children's step mother and I expected them to treat her with the same respect as they do me. I would have continued to treat Lucy as part of the team because when the kids were with you guys she was acting as their mother. If you and Katie got married I'd do the same thing. Nobody is trying to replace you or take your kids away from you. All I'm asking is to change the schedule around. Maybe you take them for 2 whole months while I'm in Australia and then they can spend 2 whole months with me there. I'm trying to find a compromise.

Gen: Why do you hate Chris so much?

WED 4:29 PM

Jared: And I never once tried to change our arrangement with the kids just to make Lucy's life easier. You want to take them to Australia for a week or two when they are on break? Fine, I'll agree to that. But I will not agree to you moving them around the world every 3-4 months just because of HIM.

Jared: I don't have to explain myself to you.

Gen: It's not because of Chris. I WANT to experience new places. I want my children to get to know their new family. Chris and I are planning on having kids, I dont want Tom, Shep, or Odette feeling left out because they can't be with all of us.

Gen: I thought you had more respect for me than what you show. I don't know who you are anymore.

Jared: Since when? You refused to come to Vancouver with me because you didn't want to be that far away from Texas, but you're willing to go to LA and Australia just because Chris asks you to? That's bullshit!

Jared: Respect? Like you running off and getting married to someone you've known five minutes shows me respect?

Gen: He didnt ask me to. I wanted to. Well, now being in Texas reminds me of a life I don't have anymore. I put roots in Austin so you could be around your family. I'm from California, I'll always want to be in LA and since I moved to Austin for you I dont see a difference with spending a few months in Australia for him. It's not like I'm moving permanently and giving up Austin.

Gen: Again, from the time you started dating Lucy to when you married her you were only together 4 months. Why are you making such a big deal? You're the one who ended our marriage and got remarried already. I'm finally happy again why cant you be happy for me? It's like you want me sitting here pining for you and taking care of the kids exactly how you want. When did you become so controlling? I'm allowed to move on with my life.

Jared: do whatever the fuck you want Gen. You always do. But for the record, I consulted you every fucking step of the way with Lucy. You're the one who convinced me to make it official, and assured me it wasn't too early to get engaged. So don't fucking get pissed at me now because you didn't open your fucking mouth back then. I'm happy you're happy. What I don't like is trying to take my kids and replace me as their dad. And don't try to tell me you're not doing that. That's exactly what you're fucking doing. I barely get time with them now and here you are, wanting to ensure I get even less time. That's crap and I will NEVER agree to it!

Gen: Exactly, I assured you it wasn't too early so I don't understand why you're getting upset that Chris and I got married when we did. We didn't tell anyone we were getting married. It was a spur of the moment decision to go elope. He didn't even tell his ex wife. The only person who knew was Danneel because it was her idea. I always do what I want? Really? I'm sorry, where do you get that? From the moment we got serious everything I've done was to please you and then when we had the kids I've done what I'm supposed to and put them first. Everything I do is for them. This is the first time since we got together that I'm trying to do something for me and you're making me feel like I'm doing something wrong. I'm NOT trying to give you less time or take them away from you or replace you and that's exactly the reason why I want to sit down and figure out a better schedule and get you MORE time.

WED 11:46 PM

Jared: Text read

THU 11:26 AM

Gen: I'm giving you an opportunity to work with me as rational adults. We've always been civil and fair with each other and I'm not looking to change that but if you're not willing to sit down with us and figure out a schedule that works for everyone involved I'll have no choice but to have the lawyers do it and make it a court order and I dont want to do that. I want us to be able to do this ourselves.

Jared: I’ll sit down with you. But if he shows up, I’m out of there.

Gen: Please tell me what your problem with him is? I'd really love to understand

Jared: I don’t have to tell you what my problem with him is.

Gen: Yes you do. He's our children's step father.

Jared: I don’t care. He is not their father, I AM!

Gen: I NEVER SAID HE WAS THEIR FATHER! NOBODY IS TRYING TO REPLACE YOU!

Gen: Lucy was a bonus mom, Chris is a bonus dad, I dont know why its okay for you to move on and remarry and move someone else into your house after you get divorced but it's a problem that I remarried.

Jared: YES YOU ARE!

Jared: I never said it was a problem. I said I don’t want him involved in decisions about the kids and I don’t want them being moved around from place to place all fucking year. There is a difference.

Gen: How do you figure?

Gen: He's my husband, he and I have to make decisions for OUR family's best interest while making sure you and Elsa still get your time with the kids too. She doesnt have a problem with her kids coming to live in America sometimes. You're being stubborn

Jared: Shep doesn’t even want to talk to me anymore when I call. He’s too busy with his new daddy.

Jared: MY kids are NOT his family! He does not get a say in how they are raised! Good for Elsa. I’m not her and I am NOT okay with my kids being moved around the world just to please your new husband.

Gen: That's not true at all! Shep loves you! Chris is here less than you are. And you just had the boys to yourself and they both keep talking about how much fun they had with you at the convention.

Gen: Legally they are. Legally he is their step father. Its not to please him it's to please me

Jared: It IS true! Shep didn’t even want to be at the convention. He spent the whole time watching those stupid Thor movies telling everyone that Thor is his new daddy!

Jared: You’re only doing this to make him happy. You finally get laid and suddenly you’re willing to uproot everything just to please him. Who are you?

Gen: Then why does he keep talking about how much fun he had with you?

Gen: I'm happy and in love and trying to move on with my life. If you wanted me to stay put in one place where you could control me you shouldn't have left me

Gen: Shep is still young and before Chris came into the picture he was already starting to go through a superhero phase. He's excited to get to be around "thor" its not even Chris he likes it's the character he plays. You're being jealous and insecure and you have no reason to be. You're his father and that's a bond that will never be broken.

Jared: I’m sure that’s Tom and not Shep who is saying that. Nice try.

Jared: You always said that no matter what, you weren’t going to uproot the kids. You wanted them to have a stable and solid life in one place. It’s why you wouldn’t come to Vancouver with me even when they were babies. But now that they are in school you suddenly want to disrupt their entire lives? That’s crap Gen!

Jared: [read]

Gen: IT'S KILLING ME TO BE IN AUSTIN TO BE IN THIS HOUSE! why can't you understand that? This has NOTHING to do with Chris. I NEED to get out of this environment, I'm not happy.

Jared: Then buy a new fucking house!

Gen: I dont want to be in Austin anymore Jared. This was supposed to be the place you and I made a life and then you tossed me aside. I tried to keep going, for the sake of the kids, but i can't do it anymore.

Jared: You wanted to be in Austin. When we were deciding between LA and Austin, you chose Austin because the kids would have a more normal childhood than the one you had growing up in LA.

Jared: You want to move back to LA? Fine! But your not taking them to fucking Australia!

Gen: I am for 2 months. You can have them the other 2

Jared: No you are not!

Gen: Yes I am.

Jared: Over my dead body are you taking my kids to another country for 2 fucking months!

Gen: my children are NOT going to feel left out because their father has a complex.

Gen: Youd be having them in Vancouver, that's another country. Should I throw a fit and say you can only have them on American soil?

Jared: Go fuck yourself Gen! I will NOT let you take my kids from me!

Jared: I don’t ever have them in Vancouver unless you choose to bring them here. I always go to Austin to be with them.

Jared: If its MY time with them YOU arent losing your kids.

Gen: And now I'm saying you can. I'm trying to make everything easier for everyone. I'm trying to give you MORE time

Jared: Bullshit! You know damn well I won’t take them away from school so you’re trying to screw me out of what little time I do get to spend with them.

Gen: I'd like to homeschool them

Jared: No way! I want them to have a normal childhood with normal kids.

Gen: Tom hates going to school, he's having a hard time making friends this year. I'm tired of seeing him cry every day when he gets home. If they're homeschooled it wont matter where they are because they can do their school work whenever and wherever and do extracurricular activities in the community

Jared: He told me he loves school. You’re not homeschooling them Gen. They will grow up as normal kids going to an actual school. You know homeschooled kids have a higher rate of dropping out of college because they don’t know how to really be in a classroom environment. I won’t put that on them.

Gen: Tom wants to please you. You're his idol. He wants to live with you full time actually.

Jared: Since when does he want to live with me full time?

Gen: since earlier this year...the beginning of the summer maybe

Jared: Since you started seeing muscles for brains?

Gen: I was seeing Chris way before he started talking about it. He feels like he doesnt see you enough and it's hard on him. That's why I'm trying to figure out how to get you more time not take time away. Chris is a very intelligent man, dont do that. You're muscular too.

Gen: I think Tom saw how much time Chris spends with his three kids and it made Tom a little jealous

Jared: Hmmm...so you start seeing douche bag and suddenly Tom wants to come live with me full time so he doesn’t have to be around him? Makes me wonder what happened.

Jared: That’s crap. Tom and so talk every single day.

Gen: You're hearing what you want to hear and it's getting annoying.

Jared: No I’m not. Why else would he suddenly want to live with me full time?

Gen: I just told you. Chris is constantly taking India, Sasha, and Tristan around the world with him. They go on location with him and when it's his time with them wherever he is they are too. Tom wants more physical time with you. He wants to travel with you and be where you are. You're his best friend. He misses you.

Jared: His kids must not be in school then. I wanted to bring the kids when they were younger. You wouldn’t let me.

Gen: India is homeschooled

Jared: Well Tom is going to be a normal child.

Gen: Even if he's the one asking not to go to school anymore?

Jared: You ask any kid if they would rather go to school or stay home every day, they will always ask to stay home.

Gen: Jared, he's miserable. Will you at least talk to him and find out how HE really feels?

Jared: Of course I will. If he’s that miserable then maybe it’s time for a meeting with the damn school.

Gen: Its not the schools fault hes not making friends

Jared: He’s making friends Gen. He was telling me just the other day about his friend Matt in his class.

Gen: He cries to me every day I'm not making that up

Jared: Maybe he’s just trying to get some of YOUR attention

Gen: He has a lot of my attention

Jared: Does he? Or are you too busy with your new husband to notice what’s really going on with him?

Gen: Chris is hardly here Jared. His been filming in India since a few days after we got married. I'm alone most of the time.

Jared: And I bet you’re constantly on your phone or the computer trying to talk to him. Am I right?

Gen: No. I'm working when hes at school and taking care of Odette and shep when he gets home from preschool and then I'm doing activities with the kids until we all cook dinner. Most of the time I dont even talk to Chris until the kids are sleeping

Jared: If you say so

Gen: I have a theory that you're so pissed off and bitter that things with Lucy didnt work out that you're trying to make everyone else as miserable as you are

Jared: You’re insane

Gen: No I'm not and thats mean to say.

Jared: If you think for one minute that I’m trying to make you miserable, then you’re insane. You know me better than that.

Gen: That's how it's coming off to me. I did everything I could to support you and Lucy and it hurts you cant do the same for me and Chris. It's not like I'm the one who married someone with a drug problem

Jared: Screw you Gen!

Gen: Could you please act like a grown up instead of telling me to go fuck myself or screw myself? That's not very productive.

Jared: Fine. I’ll just ignore you then. You’re pissing me off and I no longer wish to have this conversation with you.

Gen: What are we doing about Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Jared: What we always do

Gen: Things are different this year. Chris and his kids will be here for Thanksgiving and then we're planning on doing Christmas in Australia. I asked you the other day if you wanted them for Thanksgiving so I could take them for Christmas

Jared:You’re not taking my kids away from me for Christmas. We always each take them for half a day on those holidays. I’m not changing that. Not this year.

Gen: you're so fucking stubborn

Jared: You used to love that about me

Gen: I used to love a lot of things about you but then you broke my heart and I got over you.

Jared: Good for you

Gen: all you're doing is preventing them from being able to get to know their new family

Jared: And all you’re doing is trying to keep them away from the family they know and love.

Gen: no I'm not

Jared: Yes you are

Gen: No I'm not. I'm sure Lucy's family wanted to spend time with the kids when you two were together, how is this any different?

Jared: Lucy’s mom would come to us.

Gen: and you never took them to Tennessee?

Jared: No. I never took the boys to Tennessee

Gen: well you could have. I don't care about stuff like that. The more people who want to love my children the better.

Jared: Taking them would have been taking them away from you and I won’t do that

Gen: Not if you did it during your time. That's the problem that I'm having. If it's your time with them you can do whatever you want with them, take them wherever you want, I'm allowed the same when they're with me. If it's not interfering with each others times i dont see what the problem is

Jared: I only have them for a fucking weekend here or there. You have them all the time and I’m not okay with you just doing whatever the hell you want with them. They’re my god damn kids too!

Gen: IM TRYING TO GIVE YOU MORE TIME WITH THEM thats why this whole conversation has been about. I WANT you to have them more than a weekend here or there thats why I'm trying to change things around but you're being stubborn.

Jared: No you’re not! You’re trying to take them away and move to Australia!

Gen: Omg I'm trying to give you MONTHS at a time with them

Jared: Two months on Ten months off will not work for me! That’s not giving me more time!

Gen: I'm trying to do 6 and 6

Gen: Just not consecutive

Jared: Sure you are

Gen: I am. We have 50/50 custody Jared I'm trying to live where I want to during my 50%

Jared: I won’t agree to you moving them around all the time. Like I said, if you want to be in LA that’s fine. But I want them in 1 spot for the school year. I won’t have you disrupting their lives to follow meat head around.

THU 7:17 PM

Jared: Then allow me to take them to Australia during the summer, even for one month. I'm trying to find a compromise here Jared. Please. Stop insulting my husband. You're acting like a child.

Jared: Summer is the only time I get to see them every day, even if it's just for a few hours. Why would I let you take that away from me?

Gen: You're so fucking ridiculous. I'm contacting my lawyer in the morning. We'll have the court figure it out

Jared: Fine.