Oh man and after my divorce I had to juggle co-parenting schedules and suddenly realized how much titles matter in the real world - like trying to network for freelance gigs while your ex is off doing their thing. I went through something similar at my old job, busting my butt leading teams but stuck with a junior title that made me sound like the office intern. So yeah, it's totally reasonable to ask for that title bump without tying it to a raise, especially if you're already pulling senior weight.
I framed it to my boss by highlighting how the mismatch was confusing clients and holding back team morale, you know, making it about the business win rather than my ego. Threw in a bit of humor, like 'Hey, if I'm quacking like a senior duck, might as well call me one.' It worked because I timed it right after a big project success, not during budget crunch time. Just document your contributions in an email since you're remote, keep it light and factual.
Worst case, if they say no, it's intel for your next move - learned that the hard way with custody stuff, always have a plan B.
