dday, first of all, you are doing really great, and IMO you are waaaaaaay ahead of me when I was at your timeline. My BD was 6/8/14 and I started getting better at the end of November and only after the 1st anniversary I went on the upswing.
Expectations - have none. Trust me, expectations will get you down every time.
Friends? Hell no. Friends do not do that to friends. Cordial coparents yes, friends NO WAY. Hell, I do not even want my W back as she is now.
Do not force detachment, it comes in waves, and do not be afraid if you cycle. We all do. What you will come to realize, that the cycles last shorter and shorter as time goes on, and the time in between increases. So, it does get better.
And as initial Cadet's post suggested. You have been given the gift of time. Use it wisely on yourself, better yourself. This is a time for you to grow as well. This is the time do develop intuition and other fine gifts.
Enjoy your time with the kids, they will never be 8,6,4. Play with them, be goofy with them, be fun with them, hug them a lot, be their rock, be the best dad in the world.
