Just to add: This time of the month is a very sensitive to me. You see, last year when we went together as a family, my wife was still in her decision phase (i.e. to move on, or stay). We had a blast, I was practicing DB/DRing and our son still has a pretty clear memory of that day.
Later that weekend, my wife decided to "test" me, because she had seen changes and I guess needed to be sure. She asked if we could just chill and have a good time playing 'Risk'; we've always wanted to play that game, but for some reason only just gotten around to buying one earlier that week at a garage sale. Anyway, we're both competitive, but I didn't keep myself in check that night and when my wife started beating me, I didn't hide my unhappiness. I was grumpy and wanted a restart. My wife was very obviously very disappointed with my behavior and what she said next still rings in my head: "...The time we had at the farm, I really thought that we might have a chance, that you've changed. But it's obvious that's not true... you can't even have a relaxing game with your wife without thinking about yourself." It went downhill from there. And ever since then I've wondered what it might've been if I had been more mature, or how different things might've been.
I realize now that when my wife "evaluated" me, it was not in the best interest of us as a couple, but more for her sake. Nonetheless, it remains a truly sour spot in my life.
To respond to your feedback - 25 and Workinghardguy - I'm also (heavy-heartedly) leaning towards NOT asking her to go with us. The reason why I'm burdened by it has to do with 2 things:
1. Our son remembers that day when mommy and daddy and him did something together (pardon me if I'm nostalgic or just a family guy). 2. A few days ago (after he came back from his trip to SC/TN) we were at the dining table eating, and our son suddenly starts giggling. I asked him what's so funny? He points at the family portrait of him, my wife and I. I asked him what's so funny about that. He replied: "Ha-ha, mommy, baby E and daddy in the same picture." That made my heart sink to the abyss; my son is beginning to think his current life is normal. So in my attempt to return some normalcy to his observation, I explained to him that that's how we were before, that daddy loved mommy, mommy loved daddy and we both loved him very much. I also gave him some examples of our close church friends, my wife's friends -- do their mommies, daddies and their children live in the same house? He responded quickly with a "Yes".
