On the birthday dinner for my son, I keep flip-flopping back and forth. I met a good friend last night who pretty much talked me into going with STBXW and the in-laws. He said I need to put aside all the other stuff and focus on what S14 would want. Would he want me there, like I've always been? And if things between S14 and me have been strained recently, isn't that all the more reason to show him that I'll be there on his b-day? I can go, and if things get uncomfortable, I'm free to get up and leave. What matters is that I made the effort to be there for him.

STBXW talked to me this morning in the kitchen. She was civil (I never know which STBXW I'm going to get). She said she wasn't sure if I was going to the b-day dinner, and I was free to take S14 and his brother to a separate dinner the night before. I told her I'd let her know.

So at this moment I'm leaning toward going with the in-laws. One of my mantras lately has been "Do what makes you uncomfortable".


Me-47,XW-43
S13,S16
M:18
BD:4-23-17
W filed:7-17-17
(5 months of in-house separation hell)
W moved out:1-6-18
D granted:2-15-18
Decree signed:3-29-18

Your future is out there. Go find it.