I don't think a one week separation is long enough to give anyone a good sense of what it is like to lose a spouse and split up their family. One week is a vacation!!!! Now 3-6 months and you GALing.... that would do it.
Do not expect her to stay, expect her to go and mentally prepare for that. You should have been out GALing this week and having as little contact with her as possible. Any contact on your part would look like pursuit and that's a huge turn-off when someone is considering leaving.
Thank goodness you are the legal parent. I'm very glad to read that. Good luck and let go of the darn leash!!!!
There is no arriving, ever. It is all a continual becoming.
