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Newest Member: Starrystarrynight

Divorce/Separation :
Struggling a lot

This Topic is Archived
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 Arfaj (original poster member #59457) posted at 6:46 AM on Thursday, December 17th, 2020

Hey all, it’s been about a year since I’ve been here. WH is a sex addict. He got out of rehab about a year ago.

He recently relapsed and kept it a secret. Newest D-Day was tonight. He’s leaving on Friday. I’m suddenly looking at being a single mother of three young and devastated children, with no job, in a global pandemic, with zero support network.

Someone on the other side please tell me it gets better. I feel crushed into a thousand pieces and I know it’s only going to get worse when we break the news to the kids and watch their hearts break.

Of course this all has to happen during Hanukkah too and when he was about to have two weeks off work for family time with the kids.

I’m just really scared about what the kids are going to go through and how we are going to survive with everything going on in the world.

Me: BW
Him: WH (StoneLotus)
Married January 2017
Kids 7, 3, and baby
D-Day 1: 01-15-2017 (rug swept)
D-Day 2: 06-17-2017
D-Day 3: 12-16-2020
1 LTPA, 1 LTEA, 2 EAs, 5 Online Sexual RP partners

posts: 110   ·   registered: Jul. 2nd, 2017
id 8617311
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DigitalSpyder ( member #61995) posted at 12:41 PM on Thursday, December 17th, 2020

I can and will get better. I am sorry you are going through this at this time.

I was in a similar situation when I joined this site. While its been 3 years, I am not close to being in the same place I was at the beginning.

Worry about what you can control. When this all started for me one of my buddies told me when I left the ex and said it was the hardest thing I'd ever done that it was probably the most important. For some reason that's stuck with me since then. Sometimes the best path is the hardest.

You'll make it through this. Remember, the night is always darkest before dawn.

Post Tenebras Spero Lucem

The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater their power to harm us. Voltaire

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

posts: 429   ·   registered: Dec. 28th, 2017   ·   location: South Carolina
id 8617336
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BentandBroken ( member #72519) posted at 3:09 PM on Thursday, December 17th, 2020

So very sorry you are back here. I was in my 30's with 4 year old twins when I left my first xWH. I lived 1500 miles away from family. Lost the house, car, and borrowed thousands from my mom to pay rent. After a prolonged court battle I was granted permission to leave the state with the children. Moved in with my mom and it took 6 years to recover financially. All of that was waaaay better than living with a cheater. Unfortunately, I didn't learn my lesson and wound up with another cheater which I discovered after 23 years. But leaving was (and is) the right thing to do.

20+ year relationship; Never officially married
Dday November 2019
4 wonderful grown children
WH multiple APs, currently involved with married COW
Kicked him out on Dday and that was that

posts: 329   ·   registered: Jan. 9th, 2020   ·   location: Michigan
id 8617372
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The1stWife ( Guide #58832) posted at 10:33 AM on Friday, December 18th, 2020

You need to set an example for your children. Cheating, lying and bad behavior is not acceptable. You need to remove that toxic behavior from their lives.

Or they will grow up with dysfunctional family patterns as their middle name.

You cannot hide certain things from kids. They know. They see. They hear. And if you don’t explain to them what’s going on then they can believe it’s their fault. Or it’s normal.

You will survive and thrive. Have faith. Know you are doing what’s best for you & kids.

Survived two affairs and brink of Divorce. Happily reconciled. 12 years out from Dday. Reconciliation takes two committed people to be successful.

posts: 14760   ·   registered: May. 19th, 2017
id 8617613
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Westway ( member #71747) posted at 3:49 PM on Friday, December 18th, 2020

It gets better. Treat each day as a new day. Look for resources in the community to help you.

Me: 52;

XWW: 50 y.o. serial cheater

Married 22 years, Together 24
2 Daughters: aged 16 and 20
DDay: 9/20/19
Divorced 12/03/20.

posts: 1366   ·   registered: Oct. 3rd, 2019   ·   location: USA
id 8617732
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Anna123 ( member #70908) posted at 5:05 PM on Friday, December 18th, 2020

I promise you, it is not as horrible for the children as you fear. Of course it isn't ideal compared to what you hoped you had, but nowhere near as awful as you are imagining.

and I know it’s only going to get worse when we break the news to the kids and watch their hearts break

I was the same, absolutely gut-wrenched beyond words or definitions. I valued 'intact' family more than anything else and felt such a deep sadness for my son. With much effort, I kept my devastation from him. (which ended up helping me in the long run as well). I kept it matter of fact but let him know I was not happy about it, but with a strong determined front so he would not be afraid and still feel secure in his new situation. I also spoke with him alone, not with dad, so I could be clear in my message. It does not have to be a set-up 'talk'. That may scare them more when they see both of you so tense, but that is at your discretion of course.

A few years later now my son is fine, even better than fine and your children will be also. Of course there are a multitude of variables; ages, how involved dad stays, what dad says to them etc. But the divorce itself will be adapted to. It sucks we have to be the tough ones but no getting around it.

Take care and I am so sorry you are back :-(. You obviously did all you can.

posts: 692   ·   registered: Jul. 1st, 2019   ·   location: USA
id 8617786
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BearlyBreathing ( member #55075) posted at 12:50 AM on Saturday, December 19th, 2020

((Arjaf)) I am sorry you are dealing wtih this.

One thing that might help is a plan... so get with your lawyer and start working on a plan.

You will get through this!

Me: BS 57 (49 on d-day)Him: *who cares ;-) *. D-Day 8/15/2016 LTA. Kinda liking my new life :-)

**horrible typist, lots of edits to correct. :-/ **

posts: 6483   ·   registered: Sep. 10th, 2016   ·   location: Northern CA
id 8617957
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CoderMom ( member #66033) posted at 4:11 AM on Friday, January 1st, 2021

That is very difficult. These issues are hard enough without adding a pandemic onto the situation. Have you tried IC? Is there any way you can resolve the differences?

posts: 356   ·   registered: Aug. 31st, 2018   ·   location: Eastern States
id 8621090
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