You strangers out there with your own pain and histories. You kind people who have written me. Who have stopped what you were doing. Taking time away from your jobs, your children, your days, to read my lengthy notes and provide your feedback. Thank you. I never thought anyone would even read my first desperate note, much less respond with such great advice.
Thank you. What a tremendous support you have been. Really tremendous. I am terrible at asking for help. And when I did you strangers have responded beyond my expectations. Thank you. I will not forget this and will respond in kind to others in need.
I am going to provide an update to those interested and some questions and thoughts as well.
First, I have not done what many of you have advised. I am probably making a lot of mistakes that will make you slap your heads in wonder. But this is so new to me. It seems like only moments ago my life was on cruise control when it suddenly got wrecked. I am making mistakes.
First I cancelled all work this week. I have never done that in 20 years. I needed the time. The rest of the world can wait. If not fuck them. I took the past couple of days and spent a lot of time talking with my wife. Late into the evening. Early in the morning. We argue. We cry. I might be being a sucker, but I look at her face and I want to believe her when she tells me that she is sorry. That her deep sobs really mean remorse. That she wants to change herself and make our relationship better. That she feels horrible for what she did and can never forgiver herself much less expect me to forgive her. A part of me wants her to hurt and feel pain. But when I see her cry, I want to hold her and tell her it will all be ok. So fucking confusing.
She tells me she is taking responsibility. She has let me see her phone and all of her texts. She tells me where she is and who she is with. She admits her guilt and says its her fault. She says she wants it to be “us against the world”. That our family is the most important thing to her. That she was living in a fantasyworld. I think that she is starting to get just how much she hurt me and that it was her doing.
My emotions are still all over the place. When I think about what she was doing I get so angry. The I think that she is still my wife. My wife. What don’t you do for your wife? Then I think about that book NMMNG and realize that I have a LOT of baggage that I need to deal with. I am a Nice Guy par excellence. I am a damaged person who found another damaged person - with the resultant dysfunctional marriage and recent disaster. So what don’t you do for your wife? You don’t let her disrespect you. But do you forgive her? You don’t let her lie to you. But do you understand why she lied and try to forgive? I just don’t know. You don’t let her take advantage of you and betray you. I am so confused.
We have been having sex. And its actually been good. I think I just need to feel close to her or feel like a man or feel like she is still mine. Probably the worst thing I should be doing. I don’t know what the hell I am doing.
I know that I have to care for myself more. I am going to my first IC tomorrow. My wife is also going to and IC. And we are going to a marriage counselor next week.
I am meeting an acquaintance who kind of knows whats going on for drinks later. I need to talk to someone other than her. I need to get another perspective from someone who knows me. I reached out to another person who I thought would be ok talking with me about this but he balked. I think this topic is too heavy for him. It felt like a slight but whatever.
About the “you go girls”. Spot on. I was really in shock (again) about this whole phenomenon. There seems to be a culture among women to be supportive of each other. Supportive is good but this in my opinion is enabling. Apparently my wife told two of her friends about this affair as it was ongoing. According to her, they said that she should be “careful in what she chooses to do” or “talk to me about it”. I could not believe that this was the advice given. If I was driving toward a cliff and called someone up and told them what I would doing I would hope they would say, “STOP!!!!” not “be careful in what you choose to do.” Insanity.
And what is even more surprising is how much support my wife is getting from her friends and family AFTER she tells them what she did. What the FUCK is up with that? There are places where adulterers get stoned. Women used to have to wear a big “A” on their chests. They would be shunned and shamed. I don’t advocated any of that. But warmth and support? What the hell?? If I had done that I would want my family to yell at me and tell me I was a fucking idiot. How could I be so stupid? You made you bed now lie in it. etc… People are telling her she needs to get a lawyer. Protect herself. Move out. Do a trial separation. That she is welcome to stay with them anytime. That she should be eating and taking care of herself. Is she getting enough rest? On and on and on… Its like she is a fucking a hero for doing these horrible things to her husband. Am I crazy for thinking this is outrageous?
It makes me more angry at her and hate her friends an family who have not extended even the slighted kind word or “how are you doing” to me. Fuck them.
About the Police incident. She showed me the text she sent to her crazy lesbian in denial friend. It said “Griz dove after leaving pediatrician and drove us to the park where my boyfriend and I used to hang out. I am trapped.”
That’s what prompted the call to the cops. I can better understand why that psychopath called the cops on me after reading that. I don’t think it was planned though. Maybe I am being naive. She moved the car because the cops wanted to interview up separately. But I don’t think it was a set up. I could be wrong though. I do think you guys are right in that a “paper trail" has started intentionally or not. I am discussing with my attorney next week.
I am just really having a hard time believing that she could be that evil to set me up like that. I think that is too much for her. I don’t think her brain could work that way. TheDarkestTimes said “I Don’t know if your wife is smart enough for the preplanned DV strategy. Probably Not.” That made me laugh because I think he (or she) is right. Her you go girlfriends very possibly are smart and clever enough though.
Guys I am just not ready for a recorder now. I just can’t do that. I can’t live my life that way. Not in my home.
Greyson gave great advice and asked me to find out what gifts they gave each other. Cheese. They gave each other cheese. I just have to shake my head at that. What the fuck?
Phantasmogoria discussed her toxic friends. And they are definitely a problem. I told her I don’t want her communicating with people who are harmful to our marriage. And she came back with “why are you trying to isolate me from my friends?” Really? I have NEVER interfered in any way of her seeing, communicating, or hanging out with her crazy friends. Never. Now since I don’t want these bitches (forgive all the hateful language. I’m pretty angry) bad mouthing me and interfering in our marriage, I am suddenly trying to “isolate her”. Bullshit. I talked to her more about this and I think she gets it but finds it very difficult to “choose between her family and her friends.” That pisses me off.
Thank you very much LifeIsBroken. I am really trying to use this as an opportunity to work on myself. I have neglected myself and my needs for YEARS. I used to have hobbies, interests, friends, be fit. Now all I do is work. I forgot how miserable I was. This has really opened my eyes. I am going to use this as a catalyst to try and make myself better. If my wife is interested in the same and we can heal, great. This could be something that genuinely makes us stronger in the long run.
If not, I will have learned a hard and painful lesson in my life. But I will not let this wreck me. I am going to be better from this. That is my sincere hope.
ChamomileTea said what I did was reckless and controlling regarding the trip to their old fucking ground. I appreciate your story as well. And maybe you are right. But I considered it completely justified and feel no guilt about it. I wanted to see where she went with him and see her reaction to being there with me and our son. You see, she would go with him to places where our family would go for walks all the time. Why couldn’t I do the same? If that made her uncomfortable, too bad.
Doggiediva my heart goes out to you. I am so sorry about your situation. I feel your pain. I can only imagine you passing each other in the halls not speaking. Sitting in different rooms. The tension must be unbearable. Just awful.
wk55hn noted that my wife is lazy and says that I should be doing even more. This is quite correct. She didn’t bat an eye when I went to interview for a 5th job. I am not exaggerating. She never really felt responsible for thinking that she could help out and start working herself. We had a fight about it once and reluctantly interviewed for a job that was not practical. When I told her it wasn't practical she was relieved and hasn't look again. And you are very right, her you go girls remind her all the time how special she is, what an asshole I am, and how lucky I am to have her. And no wk, we are not starting a massage therapy business. :)
I feel more like a human after these past few days. I am hopeful. I am looking forward to therapy and focusing on myself.
Again, thank you all so very much. You were with me during one of the darkest moments of my life.