Dear freddo:

Reads to me that there is not much that she would have told you during this week if you did talk. You already know the situation: she is confused, she doesn’t know what to  do, she is very attached and involved with her boyfriend in Argentina, she is very much considering the children staying in France for a long time (wanting “to see if the boys are doing fine at school here”). I don’t think there is much she can tell you when back from your parents’.

If when she is back she says: yes, I am sure, the children must stay in France! This will probably mean that she got all excited during her stay at your parents’ place by the sea or otherwise, and at that moment, wants them to have a life in France. But you can’t count on her moment of excitation to last!

So take it day by day, keep your calm, don’t get excited yourself when she makes positive statements or depressed when she makes negative statements, not giving much weight to either. Be nice to her, gentle, not pressuring her either way, suggest things to her to ease her distress. This will calm the children, to see their parents kind and patient with each other and will be your best bet moving forward.

anita