Painter is right.... "act as if" meaning act as if you were divorced or she isn't a part of your life outside of co-parenting.
You are right. You are legally married and the law will honor all rights to you. This is legal paperwork and not morally binding. You have no legal right to ask anyone anything. Married or not.
It's super important that you read DB/DR and detach! If you want to have any chance at all you really need to change it up.
I think that I am acting "as if" around her. I just make small talk when we are around each other, like I am talking to an old friend. I respond to texts and calls about the kids. I am just "as if" about everything. There is no other way to "act". We don't talk about R or the future at all.
I think my problem is that I am not acting "as if" in my own mind. When I am away from her, I think about her all the time and no not picture being divorced. I have not detached. I have read all of the detachment posts that I can find. I just read one that Sandi posted today. I understand all of it. It makes perfect sense. I just have not been able to do it yet. I can't get "there" in my mind and heart yet.
I have read DB. I am reading it again this past week.
M-42 W-40 S-12 D-10 Together-13 years Married-10 years Separated-6/2016 ILYBINILWY-7/2016 EA-4/2016 (best guess) PA-7/2016 (best guess)