Unlurking, Rd II: Hitting reset

[SciDad]

Journaling:

I don't really have much to report. Wife was late coming home last night, so I helped the kids with their homework. She said she had car problems, but I'm not convinced. To be on the safe side I'll give her car a thorough looking at over the weekend, but where she was or wasn't did not affect me.

I was tempted to let the kids play and leave the homework to my W (it's her unofficial "job" to help with schoolwork), but I don't want to use my kids as pawns in any relationship games. All it would serve is to increase family anxiety and stress. There's enough of that (especially at the holidays) without me adding to it. Not to mention I like being involved with my kids.

I'm not sure if this is progress, but when my wife mentioned improvements we could make to our holiday recipes for next year, I didn't flinch, didn't spiral into doubt. I absolutely noticed the talk of a future, but I didn't read much into it. It's not worth the effort or attention to make guesses at what might happen. All I can do is focus on what I can control, enjoy the good moments in life, and embrace the struggles as challenges that will strengthen me.

I'll try to continue the detachment about her comings and goings over the weekend - we will most likely need to split chores and she will be on her own to do whatever she wants to do.