Hi Dave, it sounds like you are doing a good job. I think being more unavailable helps her think about you more and causes her to want to see you. Remember that when she calls and asks what you are doing, etc., that you don't have to give a play by play explaination. You can be a bit more vague and that causes a little "mystery" and makes you more interesting to her. Never lie about anything! And since you were with your child and she wanted to know what you two were doing, it all worked out good. But like I said, it doesn't hurt to try to not go into details with her.

Expect some up and down days yet to come b/c she won't get over this right away. Don't let a good day like you had in the bookstore set you up for disappointment in thinking that everything is going to be a lot better from now on. As you said....it is only a "baby-step". It was good, but take a day at a time b/c it will likely change on a regular basis.

I am glad that you are close to your MIL. However, since your wife feels like her mother is on "your side", please be careful about spending those long hours there with MIL. You see, spending 5 hours with the MIL, in your W's opinion, will seem as though the two of you were conspiring against her. That is the mind of a WAW! She is likely to find out and if she does, she is not going to be happy. If you had just given MIL the card and stayed a few minutes, that would have been much better than 5 hours. Do you see where I'm coming from? I know men and women think very differently, so that is why I am sharing that bit of information with you.

I'll talk to you later. Keep up the good work.

Sandi

It is not about what you feel should work in your M. It is about doing the work that gets the right results. Do what works!