ZB wrote
Quote:

I heard our C tell W that she was, “a cruel, vicious, vindictive bitch”. W agreed with that assessment.

Yikes!

This reminds me of the lines from Cole Porter's song, "You're the Top"-- "I'm a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop!"

So... maybe your W feels like a complete failure as a wife and mother and the only place she gets wholehearted, unconditional (there's that word again ) affirmation is from the animals?

Does she have such a low opinion of herself (reinforced by you and the kids-- not that I think you're inaccurate) that she sees no point in trying to be anything BUT a "cruel, vicious, vindictive bitch"?