Accusing him of bitterness is such a reliable tool in these situations. It reframes a logistical disagreement as a therapy issue. Suddenly you are not saying no to an unreasonable request, you are saying no because you secretly still have feelings, which means the conversation is now about your emotional state rather than whether the ask was fair. It is an elegant trap if you are willing to deploy it with a straight face.
The part that never gets talked about enough in these situations is how much goodwill with an employer is worth. Flexible arrangements for school pickups and drop offs do not just happen. They get negotiated, they get maintained, they depend on a track record of reliability. Blowing that up to cover for someone else’s commute decision is not a small thing, and the person asking does not have to live with the consequences if it goes wrong.
Co-parenting requires cooperation, not unlimited availability. Those are two completely different things and people who want the second one tend to describe it as the first one when they are making the ask.
Saying no to covering for a decision you had no part in making is not bitterness. It is just a sentence.
Author: Kayitsi.com
