Jeff,

Something's been gnawing at me about your sitch, and I'd be anxious to hear if anyone else agrees or maybe it's just me.

You seem to be taking "detachment" soooooo far to the extreme, that it's like you've adopted this attitude of "I dare you to leave me" with your wife. Some of the things you post -- it's like "this is what it's going to be like for her, and she won't be allowed to come and go, and she's going to regret this," etc.

Is your marriage not worth some final attempts to reach out here? I'm not saying that -- intellectually -- your wife doesn't know where you stand. I'm certain she does. But she's also fogged out right now, making poor decisions, and you seem content to let the mother of your children walk over the edge of the cliff (figuratively), and tell your kids "There's nothing we can do; your mother wants to walk over the edge of the cliff. She's going to regret this, but all we can do is love and be kind to everyone we meet."

Well, doesn't that include your wife? Doesn't "love" in this sense include not just everyday kindnesses (which you certainly do), but some sort of a TOUGH love, whereby you reach out to her and offer your arm before she goes off the cliff?

I know you are a man of faith, as am I. Sometimes God reaches out to us, even when it's long past the time when He should have to, and gives us yet another opportunity to say "yes" to Him.

For what it's worth.

Puppy