Hey IB, I was really happy to see that your XH met your kids without OW since they asked for that. That is a positive step perhaps in the way they interact.

I have to say that I really didn't miss XH this holiday. (and it wasn't just the drama in my family that you read about that makes me say this).

I just guess the positives are overtaking the negatives for me, so I don't feel the pull so much. I am really struck by how different this holiday feels from the last year's holiday. I think even if you feel this heartache, you're still enormously better than you were, so take pride in that.

If you feel like bawling, cry your eyes out and get it out, and go on. The decorating will probably help you too...I think the "feel" of the change of the seasons, which can come with decorating your house, can make you feel the passage of time more.

And you might want to try to come up with some new tradition, nothing big, but something new so that you DO have a change in traditions.

M45
Bomb 6/09; EA 6/10; Divorced 1/11
Proud single mom of 7 little feline girls and one little feline boy
"Fall down 53 times. Get up 54." -- Zen saying