Yeah, I can relate so well to your sitch. My S8 does not care to be with W, not because he does not love her, but because she is all over the boards emotionally ... this has seemed to change a bit over the past month(s), W just mentioned this morning how S was better when she is dropping him off at school, even gave her a kiss while she had lipstick on... I laughed, she asked if I have been talking to him about it, which I have, planting little seeds but told her I thought the bigger part of it was the way W has been the past month or two, more stable and allowing S to feel more at ease. She actually seen where I was coming from.
I would sense your S can tell Daddy just is not "Daddy" right now, my son actually told me he thought mom was kind of sleep walking, how spot on and observant is that ... so yes .. at 8 your kiddo knows, and you are the rock right now, the one he knows he can turn to.
I still expressed to S it was important to spend time with his Mom, she loved him, but yeah the really dark MLC days (I pray are behind us) were tough and there is still some bridge repair work that needs to be done there.
Hang in there, you are a wonderful Mother, and yeah .. the MIL thing ... I laugh at that too, my FIL and MIL on the outside seem like great people but they have 5 pretty messed up adults they have released into the wild, must have been a crazy childhood from what I gather.
