Let this be a very strong lesson for you. You never seem to think of all the ins and outs of things then you scramble around to do damage control. Arent you tired of that by now?
If you need to get a pad and a pen and make a list of pros and cons for each choice you have to make so you can see in black and white what is a good idea and what is a terrible idea. That way, you wont always be in damage control mode.
You wonder why your W is always annoyed and turned off by you? This is why. You dont think, you just act on emotion then backpeddle to "fix things" and the cycle just continues.
Only you can break this cycle. Yes, your kids might have wanted to stay home and sure, of course you want them to enjoy their day but you are their FATHER and not their buddy. Your first obligation is for their safety and well being and sometimes that means you have to say "sorry, I know you might want to stay home but that isnt going to happen".
As I said on another thread you need to start setting some boundaires with both your W and your children. Otherwise all three of them will continue to walk all over you. Dont think your kids dont see what is going on and which parent they can manipulate (that would be you). They know their mom wont take their BS but if they go crying to daddy he will make it better. That doesnt make you the hero, it makes you the pushover and drives a huge wedge in the co-parenting you and your W need to be doing.
I was 20 when my parents divorced and trust me, I knew exactly how to manipulate my dad because like your W, my mom took no BS from me or my sister. Yeah, it was good for a while but eventually I lost all respect for my dad because he was so weak and helpless after the divorce he didnt know which way to turn (and he eventually turned to booze which killed him at the age of 58).
Again, the last time I will ask - when are you going to get on the task of the counseling list?
