Won't be that much different as she has hardly been home lately anyway.
Yep, you will miss that dog more than her. In time. And yes, you are supposed to be happy for her. You should be, but maybe not yet. But it will be different once you get a pattern established for how to co-parent (such as it will be).
People are funny Matt. They may leave, but that doesn't mean they have "moved on" emotionally. She'll be back to tell you how awful you were etc. LOL! It's part of the way people, teens and addicts especially, deal with hurt. They make the other person out to be a monster that they "had to leave!" Presumably they'd be crazy to stay with you after they are done rationalizing the whole thing.
She may very likely stay gone, and I think you should make her stay gone and count yourself lucky when its all said and done. I know that's counter to the board's mission. I do. But unless she changes in a massive way, you were bound to a woman that was going to make your life HE**.
Is it too much to ask that you're happy for her and her new life without you? Considering what's going on in her head (most likely) then it's a small favor to ask.
Whatever you do, don't let her come back unless she completely changes, Matt. No matter how tempted you are.
I still strongly believe you should run, not walk in the other direction. I say that with kindness to you both.
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."
