Well just to clarify, AT the very worst she could try to pull something but even if she did, the cards are in my hand. Fact is this has been their home for several years and she did leave them with me for a year without so much as coming to see them but once or twice. Not only that, I have the means to support them better than she does. That's worst case scenario though.

Although we dont' get along, she's been kind of irresponsible of late and has been kind of a slacker in her own life for the past year, she's not a terrible person overall or a bad mother. She knows they are good here with me and I'm taking good care of them. She also said in relation to my fear, she doesn't want to take them and put them in Baltimore schools anyway (not great schools). I'm very sure that this is all just fear in me of losing the boys. If she was the type to try and take them, and really do something like that, she would have already started that stuff.

I think I'm ok and yes the "i'll do my best" threw me, justifiably so knowing how I think the worst initially but I'm sure it will be clear before they go in 3 weeks what she meant and I hope to have their trip set up for the route home soon after they go up there.

Thank you for your support! I appreciate your understanding and words. I know there are some really bad nightmares over child custody out there and you all have good reason to say what you did.

It'll be ok though.