Once again, thanks everybody. I should have said in the beginning that she is not a wacko, has been a great partner in crime and puts our son first at all times. I also said that I had no idea it was coming, but after a couple of relatively sleepless nights thinking about it a few things became very obvious to me. There were warning signs that things were in trouble, but I chose to ignore them...who wants to admit to themselves that their marriage is going down the tubes? We've talked a lot in the past days, more so than we've talked in the past few weeks and it's been really helpful. In the end, as hard as it is to say, it looks like she just grew apart from me, some reasons I know and some I don't and probably never will. We will remain friends after all is said and done...we do and will continue to get along. She isn't looking to take me to the cleaners or take my son away from me, and like I said earlier, all she wants is half of our current savings and whatever furniture and junk we split up in the house.

She wants my house to be home base for our boy so he can go to pre-school and school here....a big reason this house was bought is the great schools in the district. It is his home and we will not take that away from him. We're going to go week to week as far as having him goes, and we're going to leave the door open so if either of us wants to see him during an off week we can. This is very important to both of us so he feels as little difference as possible and has both of our faces around regularly. We will also give each other first call if either of us needs someone to watch him.

We are going to sit down over the next few days and go through this place, figuring out who gets what as far as material things go. We're going to be prepared and have it all figured out (money, items, custody) before we sit down and make this legal.

It's strange and scary watching the life you know just go away. At this point the part that hurts the most is knowing that my son will be sleeping away from me from time to time. I'm sad and hurt that the marriage is over, but I feel like some tension between us is gone now that this out in the open.
Don't get me wrong, even though I am starting to come to grips with my new reality, it still sucks worse than anything I could ever imagine.Daytona6938409.8777662037

Matt,
I can't imagine how difficult this is for you and your wife and how difficult it will be for your son.
Right now, you and your wife are doing what's best for everyone, but my advice would be to get everything in writing.
I have some friends who started out with friendly separations and they turned into nasty lawsuits.
Just go slow and be extra careful.
We are here for you,
Dave

[QUOTE=dwright] but my advice would be to get everything in writing.[/QUOTE]

It will be, have no worries.

The single most important thing to both of us is our son. Neither one of us want to expose him to any fighting or bitterness which is why we've agreed to handle it the way we are. He will only know us as friendly to each other...we're raising an amazing boy and neither of us wants to jeapordize his well being. She said to me today, and I believe her, that she already has taken enough from me so she wants this to be as easy on me as possible. Even though she doesn't want to be my wife anymore, she still cares about me as a person.

I'm done with this thread for a couple of days. I need to just be inside my own head for a while. Thanks again everybody...you're a good bunch.Daytona6938409.9150462963