I completely understand what you mean when you talk about tearing a family apart as well as a relationship. I'm sure that is a completely different level of pain. Honestly, I think it is possible for a person in a relationship without kids to rationally decide that the relationship is not right for them anymore. It [censored], but it can be rational. However, tearing a family apart seems much harder if not impossible to justify outside of cases of abuse. I don't think my W is irrational nor particularly disingenuous. She decided that she was better off not in the relationship. That [censored] for me, but it doesn't make her irrational. Personally, I thought that our relationship was salvageable with some hard work, but she didn't.
In terms of the dog, I feel like that it would be cruel and controlling to deny her visitation. She is not a child, not even close, but she is beloved by both of us. Also, if my W wanted to force the issue the house is still in both of our names and she has a key, so she could just visit whenever she knows I'm out (she wouldn't do that, but I think it would be within her rights.) I don't know if I will take the dog if/when I move. It really depends on the situation. She is a bigger 50lb dog with a lot of energy so I wouldn't want to coop her up in a small apartment.
Hot yoga just helped my mood a lot and I have a group bike ride in 1.5 hours, so today is a good GAL day!
W 34 Me 42 Married 7 years together 8 0 kids 1 beloved dog BD 4/6/2018 I moved out 4/7/2018 I moved back in alone 8/05/2018 I file 3/06/2019 D official 5/7/2019
