Still here. Still not detached...

[Rose888]

Chris, I can't remember all the details of your wife's work environment. Has she been employed for long? Does she have a new assignment? How much seniority does she have?

In general though, I agree with 25yearsmlc. You are judging behavior that is well within the bell curve of behavior of employed moms and dads. Would you think badly of a co-worker who put their kids on the bus and then worked a normal day?

I remember one year, when I did what you did (drove to school behind the bus), and I overheard two teachers gently laughing at us parents. They, of course, had to put their kids on the bus and then get to work.

There is a wide range of parenting styles. I get the feeling that your wife has in the past been firmly on the Pinterest and Helicopter Parenting side of the curve. It's not uncommon for people to adjust their parenting styles as their kids get older.

Not hovering, not making a sign for pictures, is not a sign that her kids are less important than they were.