Thank you Kaydee and Madluv for the kind words.
I am learning to turn a bit of that empathy towards myself. It’s a difficult thing at times as I have always considered the two of us, when making decisions. Now I am thinking more in terms of what is good for me and what is good for the kids.
I know I haven’t updated in awhile. It’s been a long summer and fall and I’m still processing this thing that has become my life. XH hired a divorce attorney, back in June. He told me that his attorney recommended that he hire a mediator and try to reach a settlement. So, I got two free consultations with two different lawyers and learned what kind of settlement I could expect to get. The second lawyer told me that I could do mediation and if it didn’t work out, I could hire him to represent me. So, XH and I went thru mediation.
During mediation, the man sitting across the table from me was not the man I used to know. His eyes were dark and glassy and he kept fidgeting. It was just so strange to me seeing him like that. He spent the entire 3 hours clicking his pen. Sometimes he had a gaze like a child, with flashes of anger when a disagreement arose. I really appreciated our mediator. He was calm and knew what to do to keep things moving forward. I guess he handles stuff like this all the time. We worked out a settlement. I got alimony, child support for 3 kids, 3/4 ewuity in our home, because his retirement accounts were empty.
Since our case was uncontested, we just needed a judges signature. Xh kept stalling on paperwork. He ended up filing at the end of September. I filed my response.
November 20th, our divorce was finalized. A judge’s signature marked the end of our marriage. We were married for 35 years, 5 months and 18 days. I don’t recognize this man who used to be my husband. I can’t believe a man who was once so loving, with flaws like every other human being could turn into someone who throws away his family and even treats his adult children like garbage. I feel have come a long way with acceptance and detachment, but every so often, I do have a WTF moment.
Sorry this badly written I am upset and typing all of this on a tiny phone screen.
Thank you , everyone for listening. I read all of your updates and think of you often. You are all in my thoughts and prayers, as we journey on our path, together.