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Originally Posted by alis
AI,

Do you have the strength to file for separation and divorce.

Because if you do, it is time. Your husband is not willing to actually change, only to convince others that he has.

He is a manipulator but not a master manipulator, that is for sure. He is still lying. You will drive yourself insane and become a broken shattered image of your former self if you continue to endure his abuse.

It's time, AI.

What is he saying you are "crazy" about now. "Crazy" is a term that wayward men use to describe women who are demanding accountability (I suppose it's the wayward female equivalent of "controlling").

DITTO x 10


BW - me
exWH - serial cheater
2 awesome kids
Divorced 12/2011




Many a good man has failed because he had a wishbone where his backbone should have been.

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.
--------Eleanor Roosevelt
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Originally Posted by alis
AI,

Do you have the strength to file for separation and divorce.

Because if you do, it is time. Your husband is not willing to actually change, only to convince others that he has.

He is a manipulator but not a master manipulator, that is for sure. He is still lying. You will drive yourself insane and become a broken shattered image of your former self if you continue to endure his abuse.

It's time, AI.

What is he saying you are "crazy" about now. "Crazy" is a term that wayward men use to describe women who are demanding accountability (I suppose it's the wayward female equivalent of "controlling").


Not ready yet. Still got some fight left in me.

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Originally Posted by AlmostInvictus
Originally Posted by alis
AI,

Do you have the strength to file for separation and divorce.

Because if you do, it is time. Your husband is not willing to actually change, only to convince others that he has.

He is a manipulator but not a master manipulator, that is for sure. He is still lying. You will drive yourself insane and become a broken shattered image of your former self if you continue to endure his abuse.

It's time, AI.

What is he saying you are "crazy" about now. "Crazy" is a term that wayward men use to describe women who are demanding accountability (I suppose it's the wayward female equivalent of "controlling").


Not ready yet. Still got some fight left in me.

You want to fight a manipulator? skeptical

You may want to go back a read your posts from the last couple days.

Hello, I'm b_r smile


BW - me
exWH - serial cheater
2 awesome kids
Divorced 12/2011




Many a good man has failed because he had a wishbone where his backbone should have been.

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.
--------Eleanor Roosevelt
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Originally Posted by Pepperband
His bad temper makes him a poor risk for recovery.

QFT!


BW - me
exWH - serial cheater
2 awesome kids
Divorced 12/2011




Many a good man has failed because he had a wishbone where his backbone should have been.

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.
--------Eleanor Roosevelt
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Originally Posted by black_raven
You want to fight a manipulator? skeptical

You may want to go back a read your posts from the last couple days.

Hello, I'm b_r smile


No, I don't want to fight him. I want to fight for the marriage...if it's doable.

I know my line. I know I'm not crazy. And I won't be taking anymore abuse.

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Originally Posted by Pepperband
Quote
forcing him to do these things creates a 'master and slave dynamic'

I see.
He's pulling my leg too.

Here is how I would respond. Over & over. And smile, because you are beautiful when you smile.

"I'm so happy you don't want to be a slave, because I will never be your master.
The really GREAT thing is, you don't have to do anything I ask you to do.
The really GREAT thing is, you can say "No". You have a choice. You are free to make your choice, and I am free to make mine. No slave & master here. Not ever. I'm not even going to try and convince you about which choice I think you should make. It is totally up to you. If you decide my requests are unreasonable, you are lucky because you do not have to do anything I ask."


END of conversation.
If he wants to fight about it, say: " You are free to make the choice best for you. I'll leave you with your thoughts."

WALK AWAY !


His bad temper makes him a poor risk for recovery.


Yes...this approach is where I'm at. Reason hasn't worked at all. I won't be engaging in any future justifications. I've told him again and again, he has the choice here. He doesn't HAVE to meet my requirements. But they are am will continue to be my requirements to attempt marital recovery.

We'll see.

His anger is a tremendous problem. Anger management counseling starts Thursday.

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Originally Posted by AlmostInvictus
And I won't be taking anymore abuse.

I hope not...for your and your children's sake.

I have walked in your shoes...married to a serial cheater that I share young children with. We are now divorced.

Your WH is not sincere...keep your guard up. Prayers to you.


BW - me
exWH - serial cheater
2 awesome kids
Divorced 12/2011




Many a good man has failed because he had a wishbone where his backbone should have been.

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.
--------Eleanor Roosevelt
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Originally Posted by black_raven
Originally Posted by AlmostInvictus
And I won't be taking anymore abuse.

I hope not...for your and your children's sake.

I have walked in your shoes...married to a serial cheater that I share young children with. We are now divorced.

Your WH is not sincere...keep your guard up. Prayers to you.


Thank you. I'm wary.
Hanging onto the last bit of hope and waiting a little while longer, but very wary. I think he's got a shot...but I'll need to see some action instead of words. A lot of action.

I can't believe it took me so long to get a clue. If I'd found some balls when this all started, we could either be SO MUCH better off by now...or at least done with the bullcrap.

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I haven't read thru your WH's entire thread, just have followed along with the last five or so pages and just skimmed thru the first 15 or so.

It is quite disturbing to see that he is essentially doing the same things he was doing close to a month ago. Professing to be completely on-board with recovery and learning about MB, while continuing to trickle truth you. He is a VERY good actor.

If your WH has not come clean and made a commitment to practical radical honesty, the rest of it doesn't matter. My STBX did the MB online program with me, coaching with Steve, read the books, wrote out his EPs but he had never completely revealed his secret second life and remained wayward...and had another affair.

The only way that you will know that he has completely come clean (which I am very sorry to tell you that I do not believe he has) is if he takes the poly.

Schedule one tomorrow, AI. I am very worried he is trying to say and do all the right things and hoping that you will never follow through with it. Ask me how I know.


Ddays 2007 and 2011
Plan B 6/21/11
Divorced July 2012
2 kids
How to Plan B Correctly
Parallel Parenting in Plan B
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Originally Posted by SusieQ
I haven't read thru your WH's entire thread, just have followed along with the last five or so pages and just skimmed thru the first 15 or so.

It is quite disturbing to see that he is essentially doing the same things he was doing close to a month ago. Professing to be completely on-board with recovery and learning about MB, while continuing to trickle truth you. He is a VERY good actor.

If your WH has not come clean and made a commitment to practical radical honesty, the rest of it doesn't matter. My STBX did the MB online program with me, coaching with Steve, read the books, wrote out his EPs but he had never completely revealed his secret second life and remained wayward...and had another affair.

The only way that you will know that he has completely come clean (which I am very sorry to tell you that I do not believe he has) is if he takes the poly.

Schedule one tomorrow, AI. I am very worried he is trying to say and do all the right things and hoping that you will never follow through with it. Ask me how I know.


You nailed it Susie. That is what happened after he revealed the PA a month ago. He told me I was crazy and these measures were excessive and draconian. He said he WOULD do a polygraph, but he guaranteed he would resent me for it and it would make our bad situation worse. He swore up and down, again and again, that he had finally come clean. Slowly, I backed down and dropped the poly.

And he was still hiding the depth of the PA and ANOTHER PA at the start of our marriage.

And now he's acting the same way about it? RED FLAG. I don't think he's come clean yet either. Regardless the poly is NOT an optional step and I won't be staying married without one.

Writing out that conversation from yesterday where he was pitching a fit about my requirements was eye-opening. He was so irrational it was unnerving. So many words and cruel tactics, and it all boiled down to 'You took control away from me so I'm MAD and want to hurt you'.

He may have had a lightbulb moment by the end of the night. I'm hoping he's begun to see the reality of his behaviour toward me...but I'm not holding my breath. Very wary. Waiting to see some actual changes/action this time.

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Originally Posted by AlmostInvictus
Originally Posted by black_raven
Originally Posted by AlmostInvictus
And I won't be taking anymore abuse.

I hope not...for your and your children's sake.

I have walked in your shoes...married to a serial cheater that I share young children with. We are now divorced.

Your WH is not sincere...keep your guard up. Prayers to you.


Thank you. I'm wary.
Hanging onto the last bit of hope and waiting a little while longer, but very wary. I think he's got a shot...but I'll need to see some action instead of words. A lot of action.

I can't believe it took me so long to get a clue. If I'd found some balls when this all started, we could either be SO MUCH better off by now...or at least done with the bullcrap.

Hi AI, I've been reading your thread. Its great that you will take a stand and will no longer take his abuse. Its not always easy to be thick skinned around a wayward, but try to remember you are not crazy, nor is it crazy to want to fight for your marriage. It takes strength and courage to stand for your marriage.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing we could all benefit from, but don't beat yourself up, you made your decisions based on many factors at the time. Maybe now you are in a better position and armed with knowledge and support of MBers. Try not to focus on what might have been, or what you should have done, focus on what you want now.

Hang in there and stay strong.


Me 46yrs
WH 46yrs "Isildur"
Married: 22yrs 8mths
DS 9yrs;DD 19yrs;DS 21yrs
Bomb drop:marriage not working don't know if ILY 12.11.11
DD:26.11.11
WH moves to OW house 28.11.11
Formal MB Plan A 14.4.12
Plan B 27.4.12
D:20.7.14

"There are moments in life that make us & set the course of who we become. Sometimes they're little & subtle,sometimes they're big & we never saw them coming. No one asks for their life to change, but it does. It's what we do afterwards that counts & we find out who we are."
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Originally Posted by AlmostInvictus
RED FLAG. I don't think he's come clean yet either. Regardless the poly is NOT an optional step and I won't be staying married without one.

His mad anger mad worries me.

What in the world does he have to be angry about? think
He would be joyful and enthusiastic about this new lease/opportunity if he had any brains.

I think his fall-back reaction is anger when he fears more of his lies are about to be revealed.

A man who has nothing to hide usually welcomes the opportunity to prove to his love that he is now honest with her.
SuzieQ knows. Yes, she knows. redflag

He's going to go to "anger management" and lie about what makes him angry.

No one can POJA safely when their spouse is angry. I think your requirement for honesty angers him. After all, his lies and secrets were 'never a problem before'.

This marriage has a new paradigm.

Wake up, Mister Wilson!

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AI- heard you are shopping around for a poly- they cost approx 500, dont cheap out! get an ex FBI/COP that does it. these guys know how to catch a liar. I am telling you! the shear fact that he was in the business of catching liars was enough to scare the crap out of us both.


there are different types of test- i did a single issue- with a broad question, that he said 3 ways. this was in addition to all of the pre test questioning about the meaning of words, so we were clear on the meaning of things.

i will look for the link about polys.


Me 44- yes ugggh
WH 47
together 26 years M 19
serial cheater big time
DD1 2.24.11
NC letter sent 3/7/11
NC letter to OW2 april
final truths 5/8-- all of them poly confirmed 5/18
working the plan

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Originally Posted by AlmostInvictus
He may have had a lightbulb moment by the end of the night.

He's currently using his "reptilian brain". Which is why convincing him with logic will not work. He's fear based currently.

Web search "reptilian brain".

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Originally Posted by chickadee1
AI- heard you are shopping around for a poly- they cost approx 500, dont cheap out! get an ex FBI/COP that does it. these guys know how to catch a liar. I am telling you! the shear fact that he was in the business of catching liars was enough to scare the crap out of us both.


there are different types of test- i did a single issue- with a broad question, that he said 3 ways. this was in addition to all of the pre test questioning about the meaning of words, so we were clear on the meaning of things.

i will look for the link about polys.


Polygraph Testing


FWW/BW (me)
WH
2nd M for both
Blended Family with 7 kids between us
Too much hurt and pain on both sides that my brain hurts just thinking about it all.



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bh- you are too quick!


Me 44- yes ugggh
WH 47
together 26 years M 19
serial cheater big time
DD1 2.24.11
NC letter sent 3/7/11
NC letter to OW2 april
final truths 5/8-- all of them poly confirmed 5/18
working the plan

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Originally Posted by chickadee1
bh- you are too quick!

I think she meant to say "Thank you". rotflmao

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Originally Posted by Pepperband
Originally Posted by chickadee1
bh- you are too quick!

I think she meant to say "Thank you". rotflmao
kiss


FWW/BW (me)
WH
2nd M for both
Blended Family with 7 kids between us
Too much hurt and pain on both sides that my brain hurts just thinking about it all.



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Originally Posted by Pepperband
Originally Posted by AlmostInvictus
RED FLAG. I don't think he's come clean yet either. Regardless the poly is NOT an optional step and I won't be staying married without one.

His mad anger mad worries me.

What in the world does he have to be angry about? think
He would be joyful and enthusiastic about this new lease/opportunity if he had any brains.

I think his fall-back reaction is anger when he fears more of his lies are about to be revealed.

A man who has nothing to hide usually welcomes the opportunity to prove to his love that he is now honest with her.
SuzieQ knows. Yes, she knows. redflag

He's going to go to "anger management" and lie about what makes him angry.

No one can POJA safely when their spouse is angry. I think your requirement for honesty angers him. After all, his lies and secrets were 'never a problem before'.

This marriage has a new paradigm.

Wake up, Mister Wilson!

Very true.

AI, I encourage you not to take too long to get this polygraph set up. If you want him to meet the new higher standard, you're going to have to hold him to the fire.


If you are serious about saving your marriage, you can't get it all on this forum. You've got to listen to the Marriage Builders Radio show, every day. Install the app!

Married to my radiant trophy wife, Prisca, 19 years. Father of 8.
Attended Marriage Builders weekend in May 2010

If your wife is not on board with MB, some of my posts to other men might help you.
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I want to give you a belated..... Welcome to MB, AI!

I am late to this party, but have just read your thread and think you're amazing! You've been through hell, poor love.

Just wanted to chime in here. Plan B was DESIGNED for your very situation. Whether you file for a D, or not, you need the sanctuary of Plan B in which to heal. I say this as a one-year very happy Plan Ber who is halfway through a divorce. (Lots of Plan Bers have to file for financial protection, anyway)

Plan B is often misunderstood as 'winning the wayward around'

No, no, no, no.

Plan B is for the betrayed wife's sanity and peace and healing ONLY. In Plan B you do not wait for him, you create a new life and people will not even be allowed to speak his name to you. You create a wayward husband free universe.

The Plan B letter - well I balked at writing it. After all that's happened - and to get lack of remorse to boot - how can you offer another chance? Even if you link that chance to tough conditions and an assessment that they are really repentant? ( I would make a condition that he shows full repentance and apologises to all - or that he can convince Steve H that he's repentant)

I am grateful every day that I wrote that letter, however. There were times during the initial weeks of heartbreak when I wanted to call him and wanted to see if he missed me enough yet to be sorry.

The letter nips that foolish instinct in the bud. You know they have an easy way home, but that they are too stupid and unrepentant to prove themselves through conditions.

It removes all doubts on the matter.

If you don�t want to send the letter, you still need to put up the Plan B wall of silence and install NC any way. He is an angry toddler who will demand continued access to you for cake eating. He will become a harassment nightmare.

Originally Posted by AlmostInvictus
No, I don't want to fight him. I want to fight for the marriage...if it's doable.

I know my line. I know I'm not crazy. And I won't be taking anymore abuse.


You can only 'fight' for the M (Plan A) for a few weeks in total - then you must Plan B.

If you stay in contact for longer he will not take you seriously and it will affect your health.


What would you do if you were not afraid?

"Fear is the little death. Fear is the mind-killer" Frank Herbert.

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