Looking for Advice

[gutwrenching]

She has not called so far today, though the house phone been ringing a lot and each time I cringe not wanting it to be her...and it hasn't. About time to head out for the ski lessons and dinner and whatever else with the girls. I made the determination the dog can wait. I've got a few things I can try to ease his pain, but we're not going to the vet.

Couple of questions have surfaced in my brain, not urgent.
1) When she returns, I think she is going to feel obligated to thank me for the help either in general or for taking care of the girls. My instinctive reply is your welcome but really you've not needed much help since the first couple of days. And thanking me for taking care of the girls strikes a nerve. What I would like to reply is something to the effect of thanking me for taking care of and being able to hang out so much with own children is silly. We had such a good time that I wouldn't trade that for anything.

2) Normally, when W is on a trip, I have the house pretty well cleaned and picked up when she returns. Somewhat for her, somewhat for me. In the past, it was always nice to just not have to deal with that. I struggle on doing that again or not this time. For me, again, I'd like it picked up and orderly heading into another work week with who knows what kind of stressors ahead. But I don't want cake eating. Realistically, I am doing 75% of the cleaning these days. So do I or don't I or think it doesn't matter.

3) In regards to cleaning, question on our master bathroom. Would it be rude or appropriate to only clean/pick-up my side of the bathroom....leaving her sink and stuff around her area alone (ie a mess) with mine neat and orderly. Would it take long to straighten her stuff up - nope - just a few minutes - but what is the appropriate given the goal of getting her to miss me...

I'm sure I'll post more later this evening, that's all for now.