I would cut down on interactions with W that are being used to temp check or find ways to get close in physical proximity. That needs to stop so W can sense and see that you are not going to be her sloppy seconds.
Fine, I'll test this approach for a while. In fact, I've been in that mode for a few days already. Just the facts, no warmth or banter. She just sent me stuff with smileys about D3's Christmas show and I would usually have replied something funny, something to connect, but I won't. I'll monitor the impact and will report here. What would be a sign of success?
---- PS: I apparently dodged the bullet on private schools. I waited 12 hours to respond to her email, quickly validated her concerns about quality of education and moved to the next question. She responded without a mention of private school.
M39 D6 D3 (at S) S 2014-09 D 2016-09
"You can't start a fire sitting around, crying over a broken heart" - Bruce Springsteen.
