[LITB]

Thanks 2step, CS and 25 for dropping in.

25, I have to admit that I cried for the first time in a long time as I was reading your post. I don't want to hurt my W or my MIL. This is definitely the most hurtful thing that I have ever done knowing that it is going to devastate someone. Especially someone that I love.

The injunctive order was filed with the court yesterday and we are awaiting the ruling from the judge. I suspect that once a decision is made, then the paperwork will be sent to NM to be served to my W. Your post has me contemplating if I should warn her about it. Or do I let things play out and let the chips fall where they may? I can use some input with this for sure.

I don’t know if my W has even retained an attorney or if she thinks that I am bluffing. I am genuinely concerned for both of them.

What you said about the MIL being depressed is probably true. She has been through a lot in her life and she is a bitter woman. At the beginning of my sitch, we were sitting at the dinner table (W, MIL and I) and I said that you can’t move forward if you are unable to forgive. The MIL said point blank without skipping a beat, “sometimes you just can’t forgive”. I was speechless. I even brought this up to my W in a separate convo. The W told me to take anything the MIL says with a grain of salt, because she has a negative energy about her.

You gave me so much to chew on in regards to protecting the kids and helping them with their fears, etc. So far, I feel that they have been shielded from the craziness really well. We haven’t told them that mommy and daddy are no longer together or that we are getting a D. We told them that mommy is moving to NM and that they will have two homes. That they will be going to school in NM and staying with daddy during all of their breaks. This was in Feb/March. They were excited about it. That was their initial reaction. Oh, our S5 did cry because he was going to miss his best friend.

They are under the impression that they will be moving to NM in 3 weeks. As my W calls to talk to them every day, she was telling them how many more days/weeks before they move. All the while I was deciding to fight to keep them here with me.

Now, we are now getting into the nastiness of a D and things will get much more challenging. I am going to read your post over and over again to help me be the best dad possible. I am sure that I will have questions as things clear up. There is plenty of great advice in there that I will use.

Thanks again for chiming in.