Separated and facing divorce (Part 3)

[mtb1981]

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I wouldn't let my 12 year old son tell me what he's going to do. If it's my time with my kids, they are staying with me. No ifs, ands, or buts. I understand that this is a tough and confusing time for them, but they are just kids and don't know what is best for them. I would have explained to him that this is the way things are going to be now that you and your W are separating. Especially if you want to have more custody of them. They are just going to have to get used to it. It's going to be the new norm. I get that you don't want to make things more complicated, but I feel like you took the easy way out to avoid conflict. Your kids will come around eventually as long as you are consistent with them. Let them know that when it is your time with them, they stay with you. It's gonna be hard to have a good relationship with your kids if they are never with you. You're more than a chauffeur for getting them to and from practices. You are their father...

How would you feel if you continued to send your kids back to their mother every time they wanted to go, only to hear from them in the future that they were upset that you didn't fight to spend more time with them?...