"Wife, got the update. I always want to be kept in the loop about my girls. I will monitor their emotional well-being. I appreciate your help regarding them in this matter." "I will pick the girls up on Saturday morning for soccer at 8:30 and will bring them back at 11:00."
no winking, no fixing, no trying to be funny, no pics, no gracias This will not help. Looks like you are kissing her butt right after she moved out of your home and took your girls.
Do you have a plan for who pays for what? A visitation schedule?
Apologize for the scatological piling-on, but I agree with Coach.
It's not your job to diffuse HER tension, and make her more comfortable with herbad choices. To be even MORE blunt, what if that is God-placed "conscience" making her uncomfortable?? Who are you to soften it???