My son wants to stay with his father for the summer, will our relationship suffer?

I don't it will suffer. He will always be your Mommy's Boy.

Let him have some fun time with his dad. While you and your daughter have your own good time together.

R

It's natural for you to worry about that, but there's not really much to fear.

the kid wants to spend some time with his father, that's fairly understandable. Plus, it seems pretty cool to him to stay somewhere different during the holiday.

If you let him go, it's not like there's no way you won't see or talk to him, this is the age of communication (in which ironically, little takes place between two people directly) get your son a cheap cellphone and some credit so you can call every few days, or for him to call you when he gets a little homesick.

There's even computers - if you both have access to computers and webcams then you can videocall each other.

You're his mother though, and even if he has the most awesome time in the world at his dad's place, he's still going to want to come home to you because you're his mum and he's going to love and miss you even if he was being waited on hand and foot by Mickey Mouse himself.

He is the boys father and deserves to develop their relationship. Maybe next summer the daughter can spend that kind of time with her dad. Or maybe let your son stay most of the summer, and give your daughter a few weeks at the end. This gives you time to give quality time to the child you have with you. You are just being petty and jealous to be concerned about your son developing a better relationship with his father and his new wife. Be secure in yourself and your position as his mother, send him off with love and he'll come back better than ever! Don't grill him when he returns about what they all did together, etc. Let him tell you the highlights, etc. Let him know that you will miss him but that you hope he has the time of his life. Let him know you will call every once in awhile just because you will miss him and love him, just to check in. Good luck and God Bless.

There will never be anyone who can take your place. Ever! So don't worry about that. He may have a lot of fun with his father, and quite frankly, that would be wonderful for a 12 year old boy to do. You shouldn't deprive him of a relationship with his dad because of your insecurities. (I don't mean that in a mean way, at all!) He may very well end up missing you and his sister and want to come back early. Encourage his relationship with his father, and let him go with a happy send off. You'll be glad you did later. G/L

That's a retarded question if you ask me. His father is your ex, not his. To deny a child the right to spend time with their other parent is to deny them the right to spend time with the other half of their self. A child is two halves of a whole, give him the right to be with his father and be comfortable knowing that you have equal standing. Just because you let go, doesn't mean he won't come back.