R2C - How old are your kids? And how old were they when you started 50-50?
Glad the 7-7 with a mid-week dinner is working well for you and your kids. If we D, I think I prefer the 7-7 schedule over a 2-2-5-5 arrangement. All of these schedules have their pros and cons.
Our kids don't seem overly emotional during the handoffs, at least for now. I know sometimes people need to limit the number of handoffs to help their kids adjust.
My W still advocates for a family dinner from time-to-time. If we were D'd (or in process) it would be a hard no for me. And I know the advice here from the forum in my trial separation would be the same. I'm just sort of ... ambivalent about the whole thing? Maybe something to bring up in MC next time. I don't know if the family time thing is good for our kids right now because it must be confusing. Limbo affects the kids too...
I felt like 50-50 would be more disruptive to our kids right now than I was comfortable with. I admit to feeling some incredibly strong guilt sometimes over not pressing for 50-50, but I do not feel like my W coerced me into it. Long-term if we go down the D path then 50-50 will be what I want. I know there may be legal battles to fight, etc. but I felt now was not the time to fight future battles that may not materialize. But if somebody asked me "Why are you not doing 50-50?" I would immediately feel put on the defensive and every reason I give could be countered.
I heard on a podcast yesterday that guilt is the most selfish emotion one can feel. Maybe I need to explore that.
