Last evening, I stopped by the house to pick up some important mail sent there by the bank (I know I gave them the new address; grrrrr) on my way to my Bible Studies class. W was not there yet, but MIL was there with my 2 S's. I visited with the boys for a little while and then proceeded to leave for the church. S6 complained sadly about me having to leave while S2 started crying out loud, saying "No, no, Daddy."
This has been happening a lot, the boys getting upset at my leaving the house again. And it really tears at me every time. Oh, I manage to put on an upbeat, cheerful attitude and tell them I will see them real soon. I say my goodbyes and good nights with as much peace and calm as I can muster. But inside I am dieing, as usual, trying to keep up this facade, supposedly for the sake of our S's, but more for W so she feels less guilt.
The MIL is there the whole time I'm trying to ease myself out of the premises saying banal crap like, "Oh, he'll be just fine two minutes after you're gone." referring to S2. "He does this all the time. S2 doesn't like to see anyone leave; he does it for everyone." MIL has used words to this effect for several visits now.
It struck me that these are words very similar to what W has been using of late. It is painfully obvious they've been coaching one another (I'm not sure which of them is the ring leader in this) on how to downplay these emotional outcrys from my S's.
God help me, I am really beginning to downright despise my MIL. And as this progresses, I am feeling less and less positively for W too. But then, that's probably their objective.
