You know the weekend has really sucked when you're glad to be back at work on Monday. It did improve, however, and now we're at a point where she's happy that I've taken some action, and I'm actually happier and feeling closer to my kids. The talk with DD9 lasted about an hour, and brought us a lot closer than we've been lately. She said that she was afraid that W would try to get custody of her and her brothers away from my ex. I told her that she wouldn't do that, that I wouldn't do that, and that as long as ex maintained her ability to take care of the kids, I would never want to do anything to the custody schedule. (Understand, also, that I would flip this around and also say that, if I was mentally or physically unable to take care of the kids, I would want ex to have full custody of them).
A lot of other eye-openers this weekend. The DS's really resent the fact that DD9 is treated so very preferentially by their mom, know that she reports every little thing that goes on at our house, and is encouraged to do so by ex., and a host of other things.

I'm doing much better today, thank you. Thanks, in large part, to being able to come here and ready your messages. I'm not ready to take your advice and leave W. I may be ready to do it some day, but not today. I married her because, in large part, she is a wonderful person. She has her problems, but don't we all?

The subject of my birthday and ML did come up last night. I told her that she didn't have to give me anything but love, which I defined as anything from enthusiastic hugs and kisses to the obvious. She said she didn't know if she could give me ML, but that she would see. As Atl Dave says, I've told her my wants and needs, and now I'll shut up, until an issue comes up that, if I kept quiet about it, I'd be a sell-out.

Hairdog