More complicated than I imagined...

[Michael Mc C]

...and I was able to keep my emotions at bay whenever I was around her.

This is an important point. I let the "crazies" out when I'm alone but when I'm with her, or with the kids, I do my best to be a pillar of emotional strength. It's actually very refreshing to be able to keep the positive attitude even when she walks around the house dragging all that emotional baggage. Not that I take pleasure in seeing her like that, it's more about my realization that I am overcoming her ability to drag me down with her.