1) Had an awesome night with the girls last night, even though I didn't get home from work until late. We had a great devotional time, starting a new book. At bedtime everyone was in good spirits. I got to spend some one-on-one time with each of the older two before lights-out and had fun with each...was able to get great laughs out of both of them. I haven't heard the oldest one laugh like that at me in awhile, and my heart was warm.
2) I've been intentionally pushing the oldest out of her comfort zone in several areas of her life. She has responded well with some experiments and not so well with others, but that's beside the overarching point that is building up her self-confidence. I'm diligent and purposeful and calculated, and I'm constantly evaluating myself to see if I'm pushing her too hard or not enough. We've had a lot of talks over the last few months, just me and her, and I know - like any other 12 year old - that she'd rather be anywhere else than hearing a long lecture from her dad, but she seems to be starting to get it...the why of what I'm doing, even if she doesn't like it or agree with it.
3) XW is definitely not ready. I think I need to back off more again, but (maybe) differently.
4) I seem to have trouble actually saying that I'm divorced to people out loud. Not to people who already know, but to people who don't. It's interesting because it isn't that I care what they think, it's just that I don't want to talk about it. So people will reference my "wife" and I just don't correct them. Or I'll refer to her by her name.
5) Busy schedule. Work and exams and kids and travel and moving this weekend. Inhale...exhale. All is well.
-PM
M:12y - BD:12/11 - D:6/13 - 4Ds
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." -MLK Jr.
