Is it normal for it to be difficult emotionally to spend time with our kids after a separation? Don’t get me wrong, I love my children more than anything in the world and I could not live without them but I’m finding it difficult with her not being with us. We’ve always done everything together when it came to the kids. I’ve been separated for 3 months now after being with her for 8 years, we have 2 daughters. I want to work things out with her but she says she needs to learn how to love herself before she can love me.