In with all that I did yesterday, the Ex managed to squeeze a call in about the eldest and his Girl Friend.

I feel battle lines are been drawn, well by her.

She is playing the remember I am your mother card. and who is going to be there for you when this fails.
She goes on to me, in discust that he might be listening to his GF rather than his Mother, that he is wanting to spend more time with her, and sets his day around the GF's schedule and needs rather than his mothers.

I do see some of where she is coming from and have had a couple of quiet conversations with him. Basically leave some time for you and still take a night out with your mates. Because at the moment it seems they spend every available free minute together, I was going to say waking, but that is not true as she seems to have virtually moved in to the house.

SO the Ex does not even seem to have him to her self when he is at home.

Also what grates on her is that he listens to the GF. For years he has wated to join the Army, his Mother has been dead set against this, but now GF has pitched in to say that he should not join he is now looking at the fire brigade instead. But now for his mother that does not work, because she now says, why are you giving up your dreams for her.

The problem is that the Eldest and the Ex are so similar in temprement that this leads to some massive bust ups, and to me generally trying to refferee the ensuing battles over the phone.

God this is just his first GF, how is she going to feel if he ever gets married and moves away.

Guess it all comes down to control.

Of course the trick is knowing when to relinquish it with grace.