To paraphrase Sally Field.. "You listen to me, you really listen to me!" Actually the above image tickles my funny bone.
Good job on maintaining the boundary with your divorcing spouse. Excellent! Next time let HER be the one to take the hit with the kids. Let her be the one to do the 'splaining and deal with the consequences putting herself in a position to consider her choices.
Which I know is hard, very hard. The former spouse gave me a look once during our son's high school graduation celebration in the early months of the divorce process after his paramour was revealed. His facial features showed that he'd just been texted to come home NOW. Instead of letting him extricate himself, I was the one who said, "Dad has to go." Doh.. doy.. sheesh. Did that the night of telling the kids. He got 10 words out, my daughter started crying uncontrollably. Next thing I know I'm sobbing promising the moon, then of all things a puppy. I'm more comfortable responding to hurt, then letting the initiating (or guilty) individual deal with their consequences. It's a tough attribute to grow beyond.
You go, George!
*hugs*
PS.. She may be the mother of your children, but she's not your friend. What she does to them, she does to you.
PPS.. and the most important thing.. Congratulations on the great performance of your littlest angel!
