You do what you wanna do, I leave it all up to you

[MichelleLT]

I am not sure if it stems from him needing to believe that this D will be painless and the kids will be fine. Or him needing to believe that he can have the best of both worlds - the Troll at home but his old family when he wants. Or because he feels you slipping away and it scares him. Or because the Troll is pressuring him and causing him doubts.

What I see is him needing to maintain some sort of connection.

And while he obviously needs to maintain some sort of connection with the kids...he doesn't need to maintain a R with you outside of the kids. And yet, he seems to be doing it. Maybe a little.