"civil yet apologetically." What do you mean by this? Did you apologize for something? There's nothing wrong with you wanting to talk to your kids.

This is how it should have gone.

"hi i just wanted to say goodnight to the kids if they were still up. oh they're asleep? okay, thanks. I'll try again tomorrow. Goodnight.

Just like that.

"No miss you or no I love you from either of us."

And neither should you have expected one or planned to give it since that would have been pursuit.

M-43 W-40
2D - 9 and 5

Emotion, yet peace.
Ignorance, yet knowledge.
Passion, yet serenity.
Chaos, yet harmony.
Death, yet a new life.

RECONCILED AND WISER