Double whammy

Agreeing on how to parent teenagers is tricky, whether you’re living with your partner or not.

But I get the feeling it will come with a unique additional set of challenges as a separated family.

Yesterday kicked off with the youngest sending disgruntled text messages to me about a fight she’d had with her dad and expressing a wish to be at my place.

I expect – in nasty break ups – it would be tempting to use such moments to drive a wedge between your child and the ex-partner you wish to wreak terrible vengeance upon.

Fortunately I’m a pragmatist who doesn’t see anything good coming from demonising the other parent, as tempting as it may be to revel in having preferred household status.

Aside from it being better for your child’s emotional wellbeing to have a good relationship with both parents, it’s actually nice to get a break every now and again.

I have no idea why some exes actively manipulate to have their kids 365 days a year.

Aside from being unimaginably cruel to the other parent, it’s very shortsighted. Being a solo parent every single day is exhausting. I’m knackered by doing four days a week by myself.

I imagine I’ll receive many more agitated texts from the youngest as the hormones – and clashes – kick in.

My ex can be a cranky old man when kid tempers flare.

I used to totally blow my top every now and then with the kids, but it’s been a long time between mummy meltdowns.

I think it’s a combination of being a bit more zen in recent years, plus realising that anger isn’t an effective tool for getting your message across … especially with truculent teens.

Though the next few years could test that theory pretty vigorously.

In the meantime, I’m not enjoying being the father-daughter peacemaker. I hadn’t really figured on it being my role post-break-up. I was looking forward to being involved in less conflict with my ex, not more.

Not long after I’d soothed the youngest yesterday, then avoided the agitated texts from my ex wanting to rant about the anti-eczema diet I’ve put her on  … I got hit by this little bombshell …

Neil Finn is joining my other favourite band Fleetwood Mac. I thought it must have been a belated April Fool’s Day joke at first. But nope, it’s true. As Neil tweeted …

While it seemed to come out of left field, Nick Deriso at Ultimate Classic Rock tells me it really didn’t.

Mick Fleetwood and Finn took part in the recent Concert for Our Lives, which followed the student-organized March for Our Lives, in Maui.

Fleetwood even sat in with Finn on a cover of Crowded House’s Don’t Dream It’s Over.

“Two weeks ago, I received a wonderful invitation to be a part of a truly great band,” Finn said in a statement. “A few days later, I was standing in a room playing music with Fleetwood Mac. It felt fresh and exciting, so many great songs, a spectacular rhythm section and two of the greatest voices ever. Best of all, we sounded good together. It was a natural fit. I can’t wait to play.”

Fleetwood had mentioned being a fan of Crowded House as far back as 1989.

“Fleetwood Mac has always been about an amazing collection of songs that are performed with a unique blend of talents,” Fleetwood told Variety. “We jammed with Neil and the chemistry really worked and let the band realize that this is the right combination to go forward with in Fleetwood Mac style. We know we have something new, yet it’s got the unmistakable Mac sound.”

I dunno … I’m adopting a wait and see approach.

In the meantime, it wins the Alana Award for Most Bizarre True Story of 2018.

Song of the day: Katy Perry “Firework”