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S3r3nityParticipant
Hello bpkhss,
I, too, am 38 years old and I’ve just signed the divorce paper. I’m with a 2 year old and whilst many (including my mother and some friends) even though may not say it outright, I know they think I’m struggling and am in the deep end.
Long story short, I lost it all in one day (ex)husband of 13 years told me he just doesn’t love me anymore. And boy do I feel like I’m dying. But I try to pull through everyday with positiveness and not dwell on unhappiness. I do not have many friends but think one or two I can say they are friends. They have their life which seem so fulfilled whereas I’m trying to start all over again. I think it’s going to be difficult for me to trust a man again but then again, I’m trying to let things be and I go with the flow. So if you’re just coming out of a relationship, you’re not alone. I, too, am with you and I’ve now got to struggle with the failure of a marriage (proven that it didn’t work) and living in a place I hadn’t called home for almost 20 years.
But I hope you’ll be able to detect the hope in me, trying to stay focus and be positive. Life can be a bitch, but let’s try to make the best out of it!
March 16, 2015 at 1:26 am in reply to: when does the pain of separation disappear…im desperate #73966S3r3nityParticipantDear Kate,
I’m a little unsure whether “I’ve been in your shoe” but then again, because of what is happening/has happened to me, I’m no longer sure at anything anymore. But I see similarities though, and here is the long and short of it and I hope knowing that you aren’t alone will help you a little more.
9 months ago I was living in a foreign city, beautiful but foreign no doubt, albeit having lived there for 7.5 years. It is foreign because I am originally from Asia and I’ve moved to this European city to be with my (ex)husband so that he can be with his family and all. I gave up very good job opportunities, suffered the loneliness in silence but thought I was doing good progress when I found work with kind-good people, made friends and had my little small circle of friends. This is after absolute struggles and heartaches from missing friends and family members.
Then, all of a sudden, literally overnight, he returned home one afternoon to tell me that he was no longer in love with me. And I’m not the sort to be totally “up-in-the-air” type to ignore all the warnings. But we’ve been together for 13 yrs, been though so much (in-vitro to have our baby girl whom just turned 2 last Nov, moved from cities to cities, struggled with the death of his father etc.) We were married for 7 years and I just though we were going through a phase but then it happened.
What followed through was more like a shock. I was told to pack my years worth of belongings from a place I’ve learnt to call home in 4 days and depart with our baby girl. If I don’t leave, he threatened suicide. And with no one to help me look after our daughter, I left heartbroken hoping that it’s just a temporary thing. That he’s just suffering from some kind of depression. I could’ve stayed but he needed professional help. And although I begged for him to let me stay by his side, I was told that I was the reason for his depression.
Long story short, a few months into getting back to my home country (a place I’ve not lived in for almost 20 years), I’ve come to learnt that he’s love for me has died. He said so. And sadly, I feel so too. For all the things said and done, struggles or difficulties, none would’ve mattered if there was “love”. And I told myself I gotta be strong so that my girl wouldn’t suffer the consequences as much.
Fast forward 9 months, I divorced him and obtained full custody of our child. He’s in a limbo, claiming now that being close to his daughter is the “mission of his life” but that “things are just over” between us. Believe me when I said there is no quarrel or hoo-haas. I believe myself to be too heartbroken but I wanted to snap out of it so looked for a job, am no 6 months into it and am settling down into a new but uncertain life.
I’ve tried support group (once) and met some people whom I’d call “friends” today. And I haven’t got many friends but these two that I kinda will go out with once in a while. But divorce is such a lonely matter. I feel defeated and lost. Things written on paper and what I feel don’t seem to synchronize properly. I keep searching on the internet and they all said the same. Allow yourself to grieve, learn to love yourself etc. etc. which I’m doing everything possible. I bought and borrowed left-right and center all the self-help books, enrolled in “hypnotic audio CDs” online and even went for counselling. I’m doing everything possible but 9 months already, I still find myself tearing if I allow myself to which I hate.
But it does get slightly better. I’m not sure better is the right word. But it does get different if you get what I mean. One doesn’t stay in the same state for too long. Foe the better or the worse, I can tell you that things change and will change. You will feel differently even though not necessarily better but definitely different.
S3r3nityParticipantI ought not to annoyed him Inky, in case he wants to fight for the custody which is what I’m most fearful of. Our child was born in his city, I’m only a resident there and not a citizen. In case this goes to the court there, I’m afraid I’m at a disadvantage. Sounds like an excuse I know, but I am truly afraid.
S3r3nityParticipantI’m grateful for the replies to my message and feel very comforted by them. It gives me hope that Lily you will reach out to me simply to send a kind message to a person you do not know. Inky, your message has gone straight to the point with warnings and advices of which I will heed. Very helpful indeed. And my very special heartfelt thanks AikiBen. Your message is one that touches me most. I am so doubtful of myself at the moment and your words are more than comforting. The words have given me the courage to go on. I’m unsure whether I’m doing anything right at all anymore. And your affirmation has helped so much.
I will not return to his city. Essentially I’ve been kicked out of my own home. I read on the internet, on various forums, partners whom abandon their family left the house, not kick the wife and child out. This is something I cannot pardon. I’ve tried to be matured about this. Whenever he calls to FT his daughter, I was always friendly. I don’t need to try. I just don’t want to go down the “anger route” and be bitter about it. My family does not understand. He said he wanted to come visit his daughter, which he did. I facilitated the bookings of his hotel room, which annoyed some of my friends even. My mother and some friends cannot understand why I could remain on “friendly terms” with him. For me, he is the father of my child. I must be cordial. I got to be above all this I kept telling myself.
He visited for two weeks in Sep, during which we sent our child to school like any parents would do. I introduced him to the childcare teachers, they were surprised that we behaved so “normally”. We weren’t nasty to each other. I tried to be nice and gracious, but it hurt.
When we had breakfast together (I took a few mornings off from work), I told him I’m ready for a divorce and had prepared the papers. He said it’s not his priority. He looked and behaved so defiantly. As if I’m the one at fault. I felt I am the one that is entirely to be blamed for everything but I know I’m not. When things like that happens, two parties are to be responsible. I’m not a saint. I know I had made mistakes. I was critical and had high expectations. I only go to him because I didn’t have any other support apart from him and that stifled him. But I feel he could’ve talked to me. He said he did, but I was headstrong and didn’t listen. I know my fault is that I’ve made him feel he couldn’t communicate with me. But I see no reason why it has to come to such a drastic end. For him to cut me off from one day to another so suddenly. Am I really that horrible a person?
Anyway, he said he wanted me to sponsor his residency to come to my city. He’s “still thinking” whether he wants to stay in my city or around my city. But he is sure that he doesn’t want to be with me anymore. For me, this is so bad. Because on one hand I don’t want our child to be without a father, on the other, I want to move on and heal but I can’t. Not with him bouncing in and out of my life. I told him I’d help him. I sponsored his application for residency. I know my actions are contradicting to what I’m logically thinking and saying. I’m simply hoping that with time, I will be more clear-headed.
Apart from feeling scared, I am feeling so lost. I feel weak. I wish to let things run its own course. I believe time will make things clearer. But in the meanwhile, I’m all over the place. There is still never a day I don’t wake up thinking of the man I used to loved. I know he’s changed. But there’s part of me that things depression isn’t his fault either. I’m babbling on…I’m not making any sense (sigh)..!
He left for his city right after. And since then until now, it’s only FT between his daughter and him and I’m the “invisible facilitator”. I look at my career, which has come to a complete standstill. I’m getting nowhere but I must provide for our child. I’m afraid if anything happens to me she will be alone.
I’m lost. If only I’ve got a crystal ball to look into the future…Thank you so much for “hearing me out”.
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