My wife is staying with her mother. Abandoned is not exactly the term I would use. It's not quite that extreme. I will expain more in depth later this afternoon when I have more time. Sandi's rules are one of the first things I found yesterday and latched on to. I have done every single one of these wrong, seems like. No, I haven't sought legal counsel. I don't feel it's time. I think she is just talking from hurt.
Jefe,
I was using the term "abandonment" in the legal sense. Depending on your state, many courts do view a parent moving out and leaving their kids in the marital home as "abandonment." It's best that you consult with a good family law attorney about this. As nw said above, just getting an initial consultation to better understand your rights and responsibilities doesn't mean you are filing for divorce or anything, and it's a very wise thing to do. Most posters find it very COMFORTING, in fact, as they learn more.
