Welcome to the
Marriage Builders® Discussion Forum

This is a community where people come in search of marriage related support, answers, or encouragement. Also, information about the Marriage Builders principles can be found in the books available for sale in the Marriage Builders® Bookstore.
If you would like to join our guidance forum, please read the Announcement Forum for instructions, rules, & guidelines.
The members of this community are peers and not professionals. Professional coaching is available by clicking on the link titled Coaching Center at the top of this page.
We trust that you will find the Marriage Builders® Discussion Forum to be a helpful resource for you. We look forward to your participation.
Once you have reviewed all the FAQ, tech support and announcement information, if you still have problems that are not addressed, please e-mail the administrators at mbrestored@gmail.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 4 of 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 17 18
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 173
D
desty Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member
D
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 173
Really hard knowing you have unintentionally allowed so many mistakes. Obviously I wish I knew this site back then when I was barely able to make it through the day. While I watched my career go down the drain sinking into s sea of self pity and the "what's wrong with me life".
My original posts was in the divorce category as I finally mustered up the guts to start it ( much to my surprise she was ok with the fact that we were splitting all 50/50)...then As it has done so many times..i saw in one of the replies a chance..another chance. My heart aches over my mistakes and where I am at. All the advice is truly appreciated. A hurt I would not ask for anyone.
Best, desty

Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 173
D
desty Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member
D
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 173
I won't waste anymore time...i am going to let this sink in and to everyone's point either man up or move on. You have given me a path I had given up on. If I have anymore questions..ill post. I definitely do not anyone to think it's not appreciated.

Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
M
Member
Offline
Member
M
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by desty
Definitely not ignoring the advice. Just letting it all sink in. Truly appreciate the gifts. The discussion has helped immensely and I am taking the advice ....

What action steps have you taken? Thinking is cute and winsome, but useless without action steps. The picture you are presenting here is not a very good one; it reflects a very complacent husband who is a conflict avoider. Complacency reflects a lack of caring.


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.." Theodore Roosevelt

Exposure 101


Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
M
Member
Offline
Member
M
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by desty
I won't waste anymore time...i am going to let this sink in and to everyone's point either man up or move on. You have given me a path I had given up on. If I have anymore questions..ill post. I definitely do not anyone to think it's not appreciated.

So you are ignoring all of our advice? You said you wanted to save your marriage. We took you seriously and gave you advice. Why ask us for advice you aren't going to take?

Would you agree that complacence might be the biggest problem in your marriage? Your complacence has essentially ENABLED her affair for about 10 years. Do you see how effective it is?


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.." Theodore Roosevelt

Exposure 101


Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
M
Member
Offline
Member
M
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by desty
i am going to let this sink in and to everyone's point either man up or move on.

#CONFLICTAVOIDANCE


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.." Theodore Roosevelt

Exposure 101


Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,433
M
Member
Offline
Member
M
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,433
You need to move your family far away - at least 200 miles, preferably more. Unless you separate your wife from this OM, there is simply no hope. Drastic action is called for. This is an entrenched affair.

Once you have moved and the easy contact that your wife has enjoyed with her affair partner has been disrupted, then then spying can be more effective. When your wife has had a decade of hiding from you, she is going to be successful at continuing. You have made it all too easy for her. You need to break the affair. Moving away will do that.


me-65
wife-61
married for 40 years
DS - 38, autistic, lives at home
DD - 37, married and on her own
DS - 32, still living with us
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 173
D
desty Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member
D
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 173
I know I am not saying correctly..yes I want to save this and yes I am going to use all of this info. I am getting my plan together. I am going to take a couple day break as to not waste anyone's time. I'll share what steps I gave taken.
Thanks

Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
M
Member
Offline
Member
M
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
Good deal! Keep us posted and we will be glad to help.


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.." Theodore Roosevelt

Exposure 101


Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 173
D
desty Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member
D
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 173
May I ask a couple more questions as I start my plan? Note: I plan on lmplementing the strategies given.
1. Divorce is paid for and she is letting us delay. I assume that will give me the time to try and fix. Feels like she may just be pasifying me but does that matter? Wouldn't she just say no...
2. Hardest part is being with someone who is not connected ( little help on that) by her own admission
3. Do I move back in the bedroom and if yes when and how?
4. We have had a couple of good conversations..started by me of course..do I just keep being me while I implement my plan?
Hope these aren't goofy questions...

Lastly, we have had some very good times the last 5 years as well. A trip to St. Lucia..we have also had a physical relationship for most of it. Just so I am not naive as I start implementing this plan...she can be in an affair and still do all that? And her affair partner could know and be ok with that?
Clearly I am in important part of the family dynamics..when I am gone that will shift. Does that help,hurt or does it even matter in her eyes or should it even matter to me as my relationship with the girls will always be special and intact?
Thanks

Last edited by desty; 06/17/18 03:11 PM.
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
M
Member
Offline
Member
M
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by desty
May I ask a couple more questions as I start my plan? Note: I plan on lmplementing the strategies given.
1. Divorce is paid for and she is letting us delay. I assume that will give me the time to try and fix. Feels like she may just be pasifying me but does that matter? Wouldn't she just say no...

I would not delay the divorce because the most critical move you can make will be moving far away from there. I would focus the bulk of your attention on getting that done. You don't want to delay the divorce because a) you need to get your family out of there and b) you desperately need legal protection.

Quote
2. Hardest part is being with someone who is not connected ( little help on that) by her own admission
Yes, we know she is not connected.

Quote
3. Do I move back in the bedroom and if yes when and how?

Move back today. Tell her you have no reason to leave your own bedroom.

Quote
4. We have had a couple of good conversations..started by me of course..do I just keep being me while I implement my plan?
Hope these aren't goofy questions...

These are not goofy questions, But you must present the plan to her that we outlined. Let her know this will end in divorce if you don't move.

Quote
Lastly, we have had some very good times the last 5 years as well. A trip to St. Lucia..we have also had a physical relationship for most of it. Just so I am not naive as I start implementing this plan...she can be in an affair and still do all that? And her affair partner could know and be ok with that?

Yes, she can do all of that in an affair. Her affair partner would be unlikely to know or care.

Keep in mind that filing divorce does not mean you will end up divorced. But you need the legal protection provided by filing.

Can you get a job in a town 200+ miles away from there?


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.." Theodore Roosevelt

Exposure 101


Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
M
Member
Offline
Member
M
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
Keep asking questions!! This is progress!!


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.." Theodore Roosevelt

Exposure 101


Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 173
D
desty Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member
D
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 173
Thanks for the feedback..so you are saying proceed with the divorce like it's happening? Does the fact that it is still in the works show a little strength on my part..since I initiated it ( whether she was thinking it or not..or waiting for me..i did it)
Then share my plan when I get a little more footing? When do I talk about moving? I assume after i complete the other information parts i.e. investigative

The fact that she is not connected..obviously a blow to my soul but you are saying there still could be a save?
Now implement the plan?


Lastly ...and this has to be the most heart wrenching for me. Currently, if I told her that we could just finalize the divorce, she would be ok..but it's ok to stay and fight?
Even though that is probably the toughest on my pity party...

Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
M
Member
Offline
Member
M
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
I would share the plan today, telling her you are going to sell the house and move away. Let her know you would like her to go with you and lay out the plan to restore romantic love to your marriage. Let her know you don�t want a divorce but will keep it in place until the situation changes. Plant those seeds today while you look into spy resources and look for jobs in another town.

Also, she will NEVER be connected as long as you live next to the OM. That can change if you move away.


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.." Theodore Roosevelt

Exposure 101


Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 173
D
desty Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member
D
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 173
Not sure I ever said this or if it even matters ..kids are aware that this happened. They do not have details but clearly put 2 and 2 together.

Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
M
Member
Offline
Member
M
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by desty
Not sure I ever said this or if it even matters ..kids are aware that this happened. They do not have details but clearly put 2 and 2 together.


Good! But I would sit them down - alone - and give them all the details. They need to know why you have filed and why you need to move. They probably know a lot that you don�t know and should be encouraged to tell you if that piece of crap comes around.


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.." Theodore Roosevelt

Exposure 101


Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
M
Member
Offline
Member
M
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
Since you have not said anything to them about the affair they probably have concluded you are ok with adultery. Silence connotes endorsement.


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.." Theodore Roosevelt

Exposure 101


Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 173
D
desty Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member
D
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 173
Thanks

Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
M
Member
Offline
Member
M
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
Desty, , what evidence does the OMs wife have? Can you contact her and get anything she has?


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.." Theodore Roosevelt

Exposure 101


Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 173
D
desty Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member
D
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 173
Ok going to get with her today. If She says..she would just like to stick with the divorce (She knows she can buy the house from the settlement)
Do I just man up..and that's it?
Just want to be ready for that in case.

Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
M
Member
Offline
Member
M
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92,985
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by desty
Ok going to get with her today. If She says..she would just like to stick with the divorce (She knows she can buy the house from the settlement)
Do I just man up..and that's it?
Just want to be ready for that in case.


Let her know that YOU want to stick with the divorce for now for legal protection. Tell her that if things change, you will consider dropping it.

But I would most definitely plan on moving away. Even if she won't come with you right away, you will be positioned to recover your relationship if that happens. Do you think you can get a job transfer to a new location?


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.." Theodore Roosevelt

Exposure 101


Page 4 of 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 17 18

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Search
Who's Online Now
1 members (1 invisible), 788 guests, and 55 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
daveamec, janyline, Mike69, petercgeelan, Zorya
71,833 Registered Users
Building Marriages That Last A Lifetime
Copyright © 1995-2019, Marriage Builders®. All Rights Reserved.
Site Navigation
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5