Hello, WAW. Is anyone there?

[AlwaysTrying]

I ended up sending the email with minor edits.

The reason I want to go to counseling today is so that we can negotiate how I can back out of your life without disrupting the kids' lives.

I believe that I can show you a great deal more space. Our conflict today is, I think, that you don't see how that can possibly work. Maybe we have to make some kind of drastic change. I think Laurie can help us figure out how to do that.

I think there is a good chance that I am doing something or a set of somethings specifically wrong that are pushing you away and that with Laurie's help, I can understand what those are and stop. I feel that without you there, I have about a 15% chance of figuring that out, and with you there, I have about an 85% chance of understanding what to do and making you a lot happier and at peace.

I deeply regret pushing you yesterday. I wish I could take it back.

You don't have to come today. I fear that if you do come, you will feel pushed and use the opportunity to drop some upsetting news on me. I don't want to fight. I think that if you do come with an open mind, you will reap immediate and long-term benefit, even if you don't stay for the whole thing.

Right now, I plan to switch to no-contact with her, which won't work with the kids and all, but I'll get as close as I can. I'm going to re-read LRT and double-down on it.