Your daughter's behavior is very normal. There has been a significant shift in the household system. Instead of depending on mommy for everything....you are now more available. So her dependence of security will shift from your wife (or the two of you as partners) more and more to you. That is actually a good thing for you since it is proof that you are changing your relationship dynamic with the children from what it was in the past. It happened her (see my post on the subject) and has only recently started to change to the point were the children will go to their mother.
You want to go to school Eric, so you should....sometimes you have to accept that in the past there was poor judgment on your part. Remember all the self reflection I talk about...sometimes there is truth in what the MLC says and you have to deal with it. So you didn't take the advice earlier and now you are. Does she have the right to criticize a little....yes. Should that make you repeat your old behavior and not go to school....not in my opinion.
Overall it sounds like you did ok...you caved a little, did some validation, emphasized being a friend instead of saving the marriage......today is another day;)
