Not struggling quite as much

[Jim1234]

Nicole and Sia, thanks for your support. I feel like I've done what I can, and I feel about as good as I can about how I've handled myself. Not perfect, but I've done pretty well, I think.

As an update, Monday, S18 was supposed to go back to college. W cancelled his return flight thinking we could get him back to school another way much cheaper. Under the circumstances, I would have done the same thing. It didn't pan out, and when the weather imploded in Chicago Monday morning, the cheapest we could get him a ticket was for about $800. We worked together pretty well, found a much cheaper option flying from a secondary airport quite a distance away, and I spent about 6 hours driving back and forth and waiting with him. Totally worth it. Enjoyed my time with S18.

When I picked him up at W's though, I told both W and D17 that I didn't want D17 driving the car I bought for her birthday back and forth to school until she had a little more practice and experience. The new plates came in yesterday, so today I texted W to let her know I was going to drive over to her house and change the plates. She texted back that D17 took the car to school. W said she could. I called her, and while I know my voice was a little louder than it probably should have been, I was able to talk calmly and rationally. At least I think I was calm and rational. W might disagree. In the end, we disagree about whether D17 should be allowed to drive to school, but W acknowledged she had no right to tell D17 she could drive my car to school. I asked W to let me know when D17 was home, so I could come and get my car. D17 came by with it, we had a talk about how I thought she needed more experience, and how I didn't appreciate D17 playing W and me against each other. D17 got out at W's, gave me a hug, and wished me a good weekend.

Also, while we were texting back and forth about flight options for S18, she slipped one in saying she'd accept my proposed changes to the separation agreement. I didn't ask her about it until today, but she asked for 24 hours to decide whether she should use the QDRO money to buy her house outright, or refinance. This was right after our talk about the car, and very casual. Apparently she even accepts that I won't continue to pay alimony if she moves in with someone. So I hope tomorrow afternoon I can sign the separation agreement.