I think the dog collar comment was not a big deal. It was sarcastic but not much of direct hit. Much more important to me in that episode was seeing Jon’s lack of attention to the training of the dogs. And I do think that is significant because he has been “trying” Kate in the court of public opinion about getting rid of the dogs. In the two incidents where he had paparazzi film him regarding the dogs being given back, he went to great pains to make Kate look bad. I think a much more balanced view of the situation is now available. Jon is just as responsible, if not more so, as Kate for the dogs going back given he neglected their traning. Yes, maybe Kate should have taken the high road and said nothing at all but I can expect behavior from her that I could not be sure I would be able to pull off under the same circumstances. And if I was set in public to be the fall guy over the dogs, I would want to strike back.

As for the asking kids what they did with Daddy, it seems pretty natural to me. I ask my son when he is with his father what they did. It is not because I am checking up on my EX but because my son has been away from me for days and I want to show him I am interested in his life even when I am not with him. Luckily, in my sons case, he usually is excited about what he and his Dad did and is eager to tell me. I think my son would be hurt if I did not acknowledge our time apart and ask him what he did. It would seem strange to ask him about his day at the end when I get home from work when I saw him 8 hours earlier but not ask him about his days when I haven’t seen him in 5. I guess it is all in how she responds to them when the kids tell her negative things.

and sue i realize you were kidding but since i know some people make a huge deal out of her saying things like that (and *we’ll never have a nanny*) but i think you have to also take into account that her life has changed so very much since she said those things. back then she didn’t have an outside job and taking care of the house and meals and things were what she did.

now there is a need for a nanny and the kids are older and doing many things that i’m sure she didn’t foresee when she made those statements…none of us live static lives. they are constantly changing…and so we sometimes do things we wouldn’t have thought we would do in the past.

Cella, I wish both parents would practice this!