When Marriage Ends, Put Your Children’s Well Being First

By: SJKFreedom (View Profile)

My husband was my soul-mate and someone I trusted with my life. I was wrong to believe this. We have known each other for 22 years, were friends for 6 years and in love and married for 14 years. We adopted a 1 year old baby together in January 2006 and in June, I found text messages from his girlfriend (19 in total) all in the same vein, our sex was so good... I love you so much...

Things hadn’t been good for us from the time we adopted – great as parents but as the two of us, he was detached and just not the same. I ignored it as I was exhausted and just trying to be on top of my new life with our child. Indeed, before we adopted he was getting panic attacks and really stressed and he put it down to the adoption process but I now know it was because he was leading his double life. You see, he has been doing his degree in fine art for the past 5 years, all funded by me and fully supported and encouraged by me. This is where he met his now love-of-his-life. A woman (American actually) who was bored by her public school educated boring upper class husband and had embarked on her new bohemian artist life (whilst still being a full time mum to her 3 public school educated children) and my husband was highly attractive to her. He obviously felt the same.

Anyway, when I found the text messages I was in shock and felt a kind of relief to understand his change towards me – and it all started to fall into place – our marriage was over. I know that sounds extreme but I knew in my husband’s case he would never be with anyone if he didn’t believe it was over and I could not go back—I could not trust him again and for me a marriage without trust was no marriage at all. I didn’t say anything to him for 2 days as I needed to sort it out in my head and when I did it was about ‘Our marriage is over and how we were not going to let down our daughter’.
I have to say, my focus throughout has been our daughter. I am so glad that that has been the case because every thing has been with that thought uppermost in my mind.

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posted: 07.13.2007
Benna Michel
My husband had an emotional affair with a woman who lives in our town-She was not that dissimilar from me, which I still find to be quite interesting. I confronted him with emails he had sent to her which were about when and where they could meet for a walk on a trail at a nearby college. She sees herself as someone who is just his friend and he defined their friendship the same way. However- she became his confidant during a time he and I needed to talk and work through some issues which were blooming in our marriage. To me it was mean of him to imply that he was too busy with work and excercise that he couldn't make time for us to walk and talk but ironically found time to walk and talk with her. I felt dismissed and yet silly about my envy over the time he managed to carve out with her. I also felt cheated since he was secretive about their "friendship" and I equally felt foolish since after all men and women can be friends. But she was getting something I wanted, & needed.
posted: 06.26.2007
Renee Williams
Hello Sue: Your story touched me as I can relate to your pain. I have been divorced for almost two years after 20 years of horrible and horffic marriage. I have three children who have grounded me in tems of not fussing and fighting with my ex, even when he's made things unbearable. I put the needs of my children first in situations that were clearly his responsibility. I also learned to ignore a lot of things while hurting and even learned to pray for him. Like you, I am realizing there is light at the end of the tunnel as I am experiencing new found love for myself, my abilities and welcoming opportunites. As important as it is to put children first, I am also recognizing the need "to do me." In other words, I now put my needs high up there on the list. When I feel happy and whole, my children are the beneficaries. Thanks for sharing. Renee
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