Just back from another dinner with H and the youngest two of the kids and I've returned home with a really positive attitude - not the slump that has followed the previous dinners. Thanks so much team! Read all your advice before I left and kept everything v light and upbeat. I'm going to do just as you suggested and wait and watch for the next six months.
Some curious things that were said: S17 'Dad can you stop doing that (H rubbing S17's arm) H ' But I never get to see you ... I'm starved of ......('didn't finish sentence and I actually thought he was going to cry)
This was followed by an awkward silence which I filled by gently saying to H 'It will get better'. It was a natural response on my part - I felt nothing but compassion for the situation he is in.
S17 smiled at me and H did too.
The rest of the evening was littered with H recalling different family memories and I smiled and listened. A couple of times he suggested to S17 who is going away with friends to celebrate graduation from High School that 'Mum and I can join you'. Again I smiled and said something along the lines of 'I'm sure you don't want us spoiling your fun'.
All up, I think I handled it okay and seem to have regained my clarity - I have to continue living my life, being there for my kids, working on myself and giving thanks to God for keeping me safe in His hands.
