My WW and the Great Sandi2 Experiment - part 2

[Chris73]

Hi Gordie--

Actually, my schedule is more like yours. I'm usually out of the house before my kids get up in the morning. My W gets them to school every day. But I do make it a point to try to see my kids every day.

During the week my W works Tues/Thurs nights. So I get home early enough to make dinner for the 3 of us and then hang out with them until bedtime. On Mon/Wed/Fri I don't come home for dinner. I usually go to the gym after work and don't get home until about 8pm which still gives me a few minutes with them before they go to sleep.

Every so often I'll schedule something to do on those evenings and won't come home until later. But either way, the kids have dinner with just my W on those days. On Sat my W works all day, sometimes past dinner. I don't work on Sat at all so I have them all day to myself. Sunday is currently a family day. We might do separate things during the day but my W cooks dinner for all 4 of us that night.

This has worked out well so far, and honestly would probably be the schedule even if my W and I weren't separated (except that I would probably be home for dinner more often on M/W/F).

Saturday nights are a toss up, but if my W and I both have plans I can usually get my parents to watch the kids. This works out well for everyone bc my parents see my kids a lot less than they used to. My W's family is barely involved in our lives at all. Her mother was the one who would try to maintain regular contact with us, but she died 3 years ago.

If/when this separation evolves into a physical one with two different residences I expect this schedule will need to be altered, but not by much. My W and I have agreed that this schedule helps our kids adjust to the idea that they do things with her and me separately.

Obviously this is heartbreaking for me. The 4 of us have a great dynamic when we're together, and still do in spite of recent events. But I'm committed to the idea that the emotional welfare of our kids comes first. Ultimately I'm hoping for a reconciliation, but if my W doesn't have a change of heart, this family will need to be ready to face the process of breaking up. In other words, I hope for the best, but I plan for the worst.

I hope that answers your question.