And this is the part where you come full circle and have to have compassion for the MLCer. Regardless of what any J, or Jae, or C, D, or E went through, what caused them to "wake up" if they ever do, or how severe their MLC was, there is no way they can EVER tell you what or why. We ALL have a dark side and at a time like that, you can be sure, there are many deeply buried triggers that are being expressed. Even those of us who have done substantial work and feel relatively whole, will ALWAYS have shame triggers. A person who knows me, or is really perceptive can still push my buttons if they stare too long at my thighs or target my mommy guilt. Not one of us is truly titanium.
Think about it, I can't even tell you why I chose the lunch I had. I should have had something healthier, but I didn't. I could have even chose something I would like more. It was not something I have never had before. It was fast, and easy, but WHY, ll, did you eat THAT for lunch today--no freaking idea. Why am I wearing this particular outfit, your guess... Why when I get off work am I going to go swim and not run? So how in the world do we REALLY think any person, ever will be able to tell you WHY and HOW they came to blow up their families? They clearly had a mental break...
So, as the LBS, what do you DO with that? Move on, and do what you have to do, wait it out, if you must, but recognize that no matter how long you wait, you will NEVER have real closure on what they did, or why. They will remember bits and pieces, and some of the story will be what they told people over and over during "that time." But the bottom line is that your spouse saw fit to leave, in a horribly damaging and painful way--for all concerned.
And the post and the stories were so valuable to me for confirming that. So, again, it comes back to YOU, and to me. I came here to tell my few remaining old-time forum friends that I got engaged. And I admit, saying yes was PAINFUL. Cutting that last tie to any "stand" meant several tear-filled nights. But, for me, I always knew that after had the audacity to leave the WAY he did, I knew I was not built for that kind of forgiveness, or for waiting. But still, the tiny secret stander believed that one day he would "wake up," realize he made a horrible mistake and come back, ready to make everything right. But these posts confirmed that it’s not that easy. I have a wonderful man now, and no, that’s not easy, either. We have kid issues and other stuff—but I do know that he is stable in a way my ex never was. His wife put him through hell, and like me, and all of us, he still never gave up. But she walked away. It’s awkward for all our kids, but less awkward than it would ever be for ALL of us, me, my kids, our families, our friends, to completely forgive him for launching a nuclear missile on our life.
It doesn’t really matter what they say, all those years after—they will still never know. Just like you have no freaking idea why you decided to take that elevator and not the other one, went to that grocery store, bought that flavor ice cream, or why you were a little rude to that clerk, but nice to the next one? The only thing you can EVER know is how you feel and what you want to do with it. Love and light, ll
The best thing about banging your head against the wall for so long is that it feels so good when you finally stop...
BD 1/16/10
D Final 7/21/11
exH married OW the next week and moved across the country to be with her...
LL CHOSE to live happily ever after...