A white flag.

I pushed you cause I loved you guys
I didn't realize
That you weren't having fun

- Ben Folds Five Philosophy

I am burned out and tired of trying to be the portrait of authority in the lives of these children. It's become painfully obvious that their biological parents are far more important to them than my contribution. I will admit I am a bit jealous that these two are lavished with unconditional love by their offspring and I am demonized for all I have attempted. I wonder if this is how Hitler felt in his final moments? "I tried to make the world a better place and this is how it ends?"
I have been there consistently and unconditionally, to be fair I had nothing better to do and thought I could monetize but it quickly became apparent that my pay would be meager and intermittent so the fact that they get excited at the sight of their less-than-ideal parents is a bit too much to bear.

What else is there left for me to do? I fought the good fight, I tried to get them interested in stuff, but they just wanted to be slouches. I suppose as an authority figure I could force them into something, but operating in this gray area that is my guardian jurisdiction it did not feel justified. So I suppose I failed, or maybe we failed each other. I wasn't left with any money to entertain them, it was obvious this was a losing endeavor by week two.

I had grand visions for the way it would/could/should be but from where I stand now they are happy to have "Dada" and "Mamma" back in their lives. So I shall retreat into the background and forge a selfish life for myself because in the grand scheme of "Does it make you money or does it make you happy?" it does neither.