My idea to separate has been an epic fail

[Caz49]

Thank you Pearlharbr, I needed to hear this...and it wasn't harsh at all!

I know you're 100% right.
I think for me I'm just very polite, if someone takes the time to write a text I reply and it does pain me not to reply in detail, so for me I was pretty short. And yes a part of me was relieved he added some personal details. I guess I'm human. I would say 'drive carefully' to anyone on a 6 hour drive. But you're definitely correct in that there was no need to tell him the children understood he couldn't get back. I don't need to answer for them, and shouldn't.

I'm a 'must try harder' work in progress. And it really helps to hear how I should go about these text exchanges as I'm clueless sometimes. So thank you.

I will say I feel so much better when I don't see him or hear from him. Just calmer. Not sure what that means, I will live my life for me (which I've mostly been doing these past months).