Hog,
Congrat's!! You are obviously a good Dad! I'm also in my 2nd marriage & have 3 stepsons. Being somewhat on the other side of the equasion, I can see what has made my wife pissed at her X. However, I have to say that she has good grounds for her anger. For starters, though he thinks he is "Father of the Year," he is mentaly unstable, having been placed in a Psyc. Hospital twice in the last 3 years so he can get his act somewhat together. He lost his job & was on Worker's Comp. for a year & drawing disability from the State & his company, but was terminated by his company because he could not provide a Dr's note to his company saying that he is continuing treatment. In additon, he has continually failed to provide the child support that has been mandated by the court, & is actually less then is the norm for 3 kids at his wage rate. He got an other job, after having been on "disability" for a year, and has again been "injured" and is on worker's comp. and riding the system for as long as he can. Though the Child Support Division is/has attached his wages, on Worker's Comp. they can only attach 25%. But, he doesn't care because his Dad, the kid's grandfather, supports him under the table. In addition to all of this, he continually, throughout the Divorce process, filled the kids heads full c@%p about how terrable their mother is/was.
Soooo...... It's been a tough road for my wife & me to keep things together, emotionally, psychologically, & financially.
Well... Now that I've wined (and dinned? LOL), I just want to say, again... Great job Hog!! Keep in contact with your kids, & I hope that you're able to re-establish a relationship with your 2nd child.
Neal