I am still standing with my daughters

[Davide]

Sia,

I don't see you as backsliding at all. Like you said, your emotions are going to go up and down and are cyclical, but you seem to be constant in your DBing. You are doing the right things for you and your daughter. You are providing her a great example of a strong, independent woman. That doesn't mean you feel strong all the time, but you show it through your consistent actions. Meditation is super helpful for me, and a gratitude practice can really help reframe the way we look at the world as well.

Don't stress about what other people know. It's just another example of something you can't control at all. I have a ton of friends in common with my W (who are still friends with both of us) and I am sure they know some things. The only thing I can control is what I tell them and how I interact with them. If our WAS is badmouthing us behind our backs or sharing personal info about the sitch, it only reflects more poorly on them. Especially in a small community these things are going to get out one way or another. I would just thank the person for their support and tell them it is a personal matter that you would prefer to keep private and that you would appreciate their discretion. You can't keep them from talking about it, but you can let them know that it isn't common knowledge to be openly shared.

Hang in there!