Went on a date tonight!

My ex was at our house putting the kids to bed. I'm moving out of the marital home 3 weeks and feeling very excited about my future.

She is living with her mom because she kicked our young daughter in the stomach and had a restraining order against her. Because there was no bruising, that order was dropped and she is now allowed to see the kids again.

The kids do not want to see her, but my lawyer is telling me that she will get some custody... inevitably. So, I'm adapting to my new life.

It feels great to meet somebody new that is interested and interesting. She is responsible, not childish and good looking.

The crazy part is that I got home 30 minutes after I had originally planned and didn't care.

She is making up degrading lies to friends and neighbors about me while I am a truly upstanding citizen and was always a great husband. It hurts that she is slandering my name, lying to the kids and family - unfortunately this is apparently common in divorce. She is on a mission to destroy me without any ammunition.

I'm never late and always respected her, but tonight - I just didn't care. She was never mine and I was never hers. 30 years from now, living with her would truly be a nightmare.

I'm proud of myself for getting back on the horse and proud of how much integrity I've maintained.

Before tonight, I would have been so scared to get home late. She screamed that she would "destroy me" before moving out of the house & has been completely unsuccessful.

She will fail at her mission because I no longer care about her and will not play by her sick rules of emasculating manipulation.

I'm finally free!