Been away for a while. Sort of an self-imposed exile from the boards. I've been trying to clear my head, work on what I need to work on, and all that. Started going back to church after being away for a couple months, and have been taking my kids on the days that they are with me.
I have had two sessions of "co-parent" counseling - all by myself. My wife did not show up for either, and told the office staff that she didn't have to come with me because of the temporary restraining order. Fine, I'm glad I got to spend the time with the counselor as she is very, very good. We spent much of the time talking about my wife, the marriage, and the effect all of this is having on the children. The C is very pro-marriage and believes that parents must do everything possible to save the M because she has seen to many good kids get off track in these situations. She is glad that I have been able to endure so much pain and still want to put it all back together. Based on my detailed conversations, she believes, again based solely on what I have described, that my wife is both Bipolar and has Narcissistic Personality Disorder. She of course cannot "diagnose" because she has not seen my wife. She does believe that these "afflictions" can certainly cause our marriage to be where it is, and also believes that they are "managable" disorders that can be controlled through medication and counseling. OK, that's encouraging.
As you all know, I've had virtually no communication at all from my wife, and everything goes through her attorney. However, in the last five days, here is what has transpired.
Tuesday - I met briefly with W's attorney to go over some financial stuff. I finally got W's banking records via subpoena, and it proved everything I've been saying. Seems she absolutely blew through nearly $100k this summer (that's right) and told a business partner of mine that she did it to spite me. Huh? Anyway, the attorney said W asked if I could pay for a prescription that was waiting at the pharmacy because she has no money for it. OK, but I tell him I can't until tomorrow since I'm leaving and going in the opposite direction. D8 calls me an hour later asking if I can go pay for the prescription for mommy, because she needs it today. When I tell her I can't go until tomorrow, I hear whispering, then D8 asks if I can pay for it over the phone with a credit card. I tell her I'll try, but I'm busy now. I try, but they don't take that payment over the phone. So,I stop what I'm doing, drive all the way across town in rush hour traffic, and pay for it. Since she needs it right away, I call W's number, hoping D8 will answer. Nope, it's W. I briefly tell her I've paid it, then she says something negative about what I said to her attorney, I kindly deflect it and say good bye.
Wednesday - I went to pick up S6 and D8 from school (I have them on this day until 7:30) and D8 says "Daddy, S10 is coming with us today". Let's just say I was shocked. W pulled D10 (my stepson actually) from me for all but one day since July, when she put in place the TRO. I have not spent any time with him, other than some brief chats at his school at lunchtime, since September. I confirmed this with the school principal who was standing a few yards away. She told me W called her today to let her know this was happening. Completely out of the blue! We all had an awesome time that night!!!! I bought him a new rat (yeah) and cage, and bought D8 two mice and cage. They had permission from their mom to do this, and it was to replace their previous pets that died a couple months ago. About ten minutes before I was to drop them off, W calls me. She hasn't called me in at least three months. She wanted to know if we could move the drop off back fifteen minutes, and I say sure. The drop off goes smoothly.
