arbuom,
Many thanks for your kind words. I am always hopeful that something I write may help people who are going through the hell of infidelity, and if some of it has helped you, I am very pleased to have been able to to do that. The funny thing is, I came to these forums only intending to read, to try and figure my lingering issues out, because my experiences of being the victim of infidelity happened so long ago that it hardly seemed appropriate to post in 'Just Found Out'. I started posting because there are so many compelling stories here, and so many people reaching out for help, insight, etc, that it felt wrong not to chip in. I wish these forums had been around when I was stumbling through my own experiences and making a mess of them, but such is life. I still haven't figured myself out, but thinking about all the different threads is definitely giving me a better perspective on things, so I am getting a lot out of it.
I really think you are on the right track, given the things that were effectively forced on you by your wife's actions. You didn't want this, but now it has happened, you are doing the right thing.
For what it's worth, I completely agree with your intentions re. the POSOM. You are not proposing anything extreme or violent. His wife should know all about what has been going on, so she knows who and what she is living with, and also that she needs to keep her attention on him in case he intends to take the affair forward. Why should anyone continue to think he's a nice guy? So yes, arbuom, do make him and his deeds 'famous', so there will be many eyes watching him in future. If you know any other Dads with kids at the school, you may want to warn them to watch out for the guy going after their wives or girlfriends. I have very little tolerance for proven homewreckers, and believe they should be 'outed' and identified for the ongoing threat they pose to the well-being of others. And when you have done what you need to do to get closure, walk away, and let that be that.
On a different note, I honestly think there is no reason why you and your FIL cannot continue your breakfasts and discussions. You are two independent individuals, and once the divorce has gone through, and you and your wife are living apart, why shouldn't you and your FIL pursue your friendship if you like each other. Maybe your wife 'ordered' or asked her parents to stay out of things in the run up to the divorce, but once it is a done deal, where is the harm in you and your FIL meeting up and talking?
The only thing I can see that might motivate your wife to not want you and her Dad to get together is that perhaps she has given her parents a version of events that is different to reality, and she does not want you telling her Dad the truth. However, I do think this enforced break between you and your FIL is wrong, because you like each other as individuals, and would probably have been friends anyway if you had just met at work, at a social event, or whatever.
The thing is, you are divorcing your wife, not her Dad, and she needs to get her head around that and not break up a friendship. She has broken up more than enough as it is. However, you are 'Johnny on the spot', and I'm sure you wouldn't want to make trouble for your FIL, and you will know the best way to play things. I just think it's a shame that your friendship with the guy has to become a victim of the affair.
As I say, I can think of no reason for that other than your wife has given her parents a bullsh*t version of events that she does not want contradicted. However, if you know where your FIL hangs out, maybe you can bump into him 'accidentally' and keep the subject of your conversations away from stuff related to the divorce. I am sure it is that topic that your wife does not want discussed, but even if she has painted herself to be innocent and whiter than white, it really isn't crucial to your friendship with her Dad to set the record straight, is it? In fact, doing that would put him in an awkward position, and for what real gain? So maybe this 'ban' on the friendship can be lifted if you tell your wife that the divorce and what led up to it are not going to be discussed. Heck, there are many better things for you to talk to your FIL about anyway, aren't there? I'll leave it up to you, but I think that friendship is worth fighting for.
Take care, arbuom.
M.
[This message edited by M1965 at 8:46 AM, October 2nd (Monday)]