But let me ask this differently (before Jack chimes in :0): Does your wife see you that way? Does she see you the same way others do? Does what you value matter to her in the same way? What's important to her? Do you know? You've done a good job so far of analysing her. Guess what? She has and is doing the same.
As for the text, why did you lie (she obiously can tell)? What do you have to gain/lose by telling the truth at this point? Why not tell her the truth? You're not happy with the way things are. You don't want to look at her or interact with her. You don't agree with her concept of friendship. You don't agree with the idea that sends to the kids? Your values are your values. Your opinions are your opinions. You are both entitled to them, right?
Quote:
She’s crapped on my existence for the past two years! She didn’t even speak to me for almost the entire first year of MLC and somewhere in the past two years she finds the courage to tell me she doesn’t look at me because she doesn’t want me to get the wrong message! What message? The one that says I’ve made her life miserable because I beat her, called her names, yelled at her or belittled her in public/private situations?! Couldn’t have been any of those, because I’ve never done any of that to anyone I’ve ever been with including her. So she noticed that I didn’t “watch” her the other day when I picked up the kids. Big hairy deal.
Those are examples of things important to you, but what about what's important to her? Not even sure she can articulate them, but it needs to be known...right?
You can look back over my thread and see I come by these questions honestly. I knew I didn't want to be friends with my ex the way she wanted to. I didn't want to send that message to my kids. It's not who I am. I am not willing to change that about me. I know that. I stand by that. But I could have written your post and see things now I could have asked and done differently. I have no regrets, but I do see room for improvements
Just questions mostly... AJ
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter" MLK Put the glass down... "Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world Today I am wise, so I am changing myself."