Hello, WAW. Is anyone there?

[AlwaysTrying]

"doormat" = risking losing (some) access to my kids because it is a contentious issue and fighting for them makes her very sensitive.

Maybe letting her feel that she has all the power in the relationship isn't all that good for it anyway. I think I have to draw a line. I'm not willing to lose my kids, and that is where she says she wants to go.

I will tell you that I am nearly 100% certain she does not want to lead me on. But I will also tell you that coded in her actions or things she *very* rarely says, I think she does think about having a separation that might allow for repairing our marriage. When I am patient and quiet, she does come closer.

When I say very little, eventually (weeks) she does open up to me a bit.

So that makes me want to tread very carefully. I don't want to scare her away.

But right now, I'm starting to feel that I'm not really being responsible for my long-term interests.