Just wanted to add a few things on here about how this site has helped me:
-Crickets! I can't say that I didn't respond to some of WS' emails, but he was pushing those buttons (you know, the ones he installed) and I let him get to me.
He tried to say he thought I wasn't mentally sound right now, he threw in some comments about how he had been neglected for years, I constricted his time with his son when I insisted on picking him up from the in-laws instead of having him bring him to me at 9 or 10 every night , I'm cruel, blah, blah, blah, blah.....I did respond to some of these with just a repeat of what I've been saying, and I did have to say: If you want to talk about cruelty, look in the mirror. By years of neglect you must be referring to the years you've spent drunk at [bar]. I also threw in a lot of, you know where we live, you can visit DS anytime. I have some concerns about your alcoholism...etc. All of it is the truth, but he's so stupid he's just solidifying my case.
Right now Crickets is my best friend. I keep asking my ATTY, do I have to respond to this? If it's about DS, then yes. But I took everyone's advice....his emails go in a separate folder, and I don't answer anything for 24 hours.
-Atty is liking how I'm responding to things and giving me more advice. I gave her the heads up that we are dealing with an Alcoholic/NPD and he's probably going to make this very difficult. I'm hoping he's so damn broke he won't be able to afford going to court.
-I'm doing what everyone on here has told me to do. Keep my cards close to my chest. Stop dealing with this person like they are my friend or the person I married. This guy cheated on me, abandoned me, has never taken care of his son, and is now upset because he lost control of me. I was supposed to stay where I was and keep paying his parents for daycare while he cut off the only financial support he was giving me. My favorite quote from his emails is "I'm not a bank or a babysitter." You are so right asshat!
-My Attorney was impressed with all of the advice I garnered on this site.
Kudos to you all...I know I can go from Surviving infidelity to surviving divorce. This isn't the outcome I wanted, but now that I have some distance I can see how I was in an impossible situation. I kept wanting to see the man I married in the man who mistreated the mother of his child and left her and a 10 day old baby high and dry.
[This message edited by NewMom0220 at 4:42 PM, October 8th (Tuesday)]
“The most difficult times for many of us are the ones we give ourselves.” ― Pema Chödrön
I like your quote about keeping cards close to your chest. I am a poker player. I was thinking one night that a metaphor of what I'm dealing with here (the wayward one), is to play it out like a poker game. Watch for the bluffs, the bets, the outs. Bet, call, check, or fold. And that said, I have lotsa trump cards I haven't even come close to pulling out yet, but they're there if or when I need them (hopefully I don't, but I tell my self, beware!).
Surviving Separation/Divorce IS a different beast than the infidelity. To this day, I still find it amazing that I should have to ""survive"" ANY of this bullshit. I, and my two sons did not deserve this. But, soldier on!
I kept wanting to see the man I married in the man who mistreated the mother of his child and left her and a 10 day old baby high and dry.
It takes us all a while to believe what our eyes are seeing. Especially if we've become master gaslighters of ourselves during the course of the M.
You and your son are safe and surrounded by support. That is all that matters.
You are the poster child for what NO CONTACT can do for you.
I am so proud of you.
You, my darling, are amazing. What an incredible role model for your son.
