advice needed...

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by jsarno

What is this abandonment thing that I've seen more than once on this thread? I haven't even heard that before...can you fill me in on how this transates to me / julia and this situation?
Let me paint a picture, Julia is a nanny, and makes about 1/4th of what her husband makes.
Let me be more clear about the letter...she is going to write in it that she is wanting a "trial separation" and that she is going to her parents or something but for him not to contact her for a week. He NEVER takes care of the kids, she does 100% of the child care. He wouldn't be able to take care of the kids anyway. That being said, she will NOT take the kids permanantly from him, just for a week. So how does this work in terms of "abandonment"? I do not want to risk her losing the kids.

In terms of the cruise, my mother and sister are on it, so I am on it regardless...it's been planned for over a year and already paid for.

About the kids, yes to both. She wants to have a kid with me, and of course, I want a kid of my own. I am also planning to take her kids as my own. They just had birthdays within the past 3 weeks. One is 4, the other is 2. Both kids ADORE me. Their father spends NO time with them, and I take them to parks, and to the beach etc...they cry when I leave, and they hug me and tell me they love me. Having them get on board, is not a problem at all.

I really don't want to let my past bad choices influence my advice, so please take this with a grain of salt, but I hear alot of me in your words (and JoeRedskin will 2nd that that's not very positive when it comes to relationships )

The bolded parts are where you are making absolutes, you will quickly find that those will be points of dispute and arguments, both with the kids' father, and believe it or not, your lady. and again, just because a 2 and 4 year old are on board, does not mean that when they are 8 and 10, that they will be (again I am dredging my past, but an 8yo will say yes you should get engaged and 3 years later tell you that you are not her father -even though she hadn't talked to him or seen him in 1 1/2 years).

The italics are where, I think you are attributing your feelings to her kids. A lot of 2yo and 4yo's adore/loves people they spend time with. I have a guy comes up every week, brings his daughter, she asks where did i go when i walk out of her sight, draws me pics etc etc. Don't take that the same way as more significant, and certainly not as them choosing you over - or equal with - their father.

Again, so emotional a topic, i really haven't been able to focus on work, because my mind races on.
I hope it works out for you, I pray that it does, but I fear that, when someone-anyone- says "i know i am wrong" but keeps moving forward in that path, well again let me just say my life bears witness to the fact that stopping earlier would have saved everyone a lot of grief.