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View Full Version : How do i regain control?


claudia.35
22nd August 2007, 08:34 PM
Help! I don't feel I have any control over my situation. My husband left me after having an affair (thread my husband left me for my friend). I did the right thing and allowed him regular access to the children, something which I organised days after we spilt. I made one request and that was the children did not meet with the OW for 6 months or until I deemed their relationship solid enough, as they were supposedly only seeing eachother for 3 weeks when their affair came out! Things were ok, until I told the children the truth and that their daddy was now with someone they knew. I had to tell them as the risk of them finding out from somebody else was too great and the constant lying and covering up for their father was slowly destroying me. I am pretty certain too that my eldest already knew anyway! Although she is only 6 she is the same school class as the OWs son and she would ask why the OW and her husband had split up too!

Me telling the children, my h has used to his advantage. He says they now need to be part of his new life as they know he is with somebody else and know her children. Despite me asking him to take things slowly and integrate the children gently. On his first outing with them he took them to the fair with the OW and her children (despite me asking him not too!). On the second outing a few days letter, I said my feelings had not changed and I still felt his relationship with the OW to still be in very early stages and the children were still coming to terms with him leaving and needed quality time with just him. He ignored me and spent the whole day with my children and the OW!

I now feel I have no control over what is best for my children, they are being rushed into accepting his new life. I accept he has moved on (as hard as that is), but want him to be more sensitive. He has shown me very little sensitivity since the day his affair came out and all I have asked is that he sees the OW with our children a few hours at a time so they get used to the new situation. He basically does what he wants when he sees them, and says it's his right as they should enjoy the time with him. I said he lost his rights when he left, he replied with it's the children's right to see their father. I agree with this, but it is also their right to be part of a happy family unit and for their father not to have an affair and leave in the first place right? I feel he is completely controlling the situation now, everything is on his terms. He has ignored everything I have asked and has just done what suits him. He is now taking me to court to get a custodial sentence so that he can see the children when and with whom he wants. I have done nothing wrong but he is taking me to court! Why is it that partners can leave and still call all the shots. I am losing the will to fight, and am in despair. I want what is best for my children desperately. But I don't want to share them with someone who has stolen my husband! How do you all cope with the OW? And men, why do you think someone I was with for 17 yrs can suddlenly change and not have any regard for my feelings. Only 4 months ago we were together and now he seems intent on destroying me!

xx

1aokgal
23rd August 2007, 08:36 AM
Dear Claudia35,

You have been dealt a really sad hand after many years of marriage. You have my sympathy completely for the situation. The problem you are too close to and don't see clearly. Your husband is right as he is the father and they are his children.

What is good for the children is to integrate with him and the OW and for you to be as kind and supportave as possible. You are not seeing the picture as a mother but as the wronged wife. You can't use the kids as a battering ram to get back at him or to withhold them or hold them for ransom so you decide when he can move on and who he moves on with. That is a done deal. He already decided.

The man is a cad and a jerk as a husband but he is probably a father who wants his children to be OK. He selected someone you know with children. This is not a hussy from the local bar stool so at least that is not all bad for your kids.

No, it does not make it right or fair for you. Who said life is fair? Dry your tears.......get a makeover and smile until it hurts because you love your kids. The kids will make decisions about this whole deal and you don't need to tell them how to think. They will think in future years you are some terrific mother and got shafted by their dad. Maybe when father's day comes they will think he sure did a rotten thing. That is future......this is now. Don't fight over the kids. You won't win and you will hurt them in the process.

She will be kind to your kids because she cares for him. If you are decent and courteous she will treat them well. If you make war ..it will come back on them every time. You have a lot of years ahead to deal with this rotten situation. Deal with it. Get some counselling. I hope in time you will find a better man who makes the next half of your life a joy.

claudia.35
23rd August 2007, 03:28 PM
thank you for the reply. I fully appreciate the children need to be part of his new life with OW and said I was ok with that. The only request I made was that he did it for a few hours at a time to integrate our children slowly. He ignored that and considered 7 hrs a few! He picks the children up and ignores all my requests. I only made the request that he is more sensitive and gives the children time with just him too. Is that unreasonable? I am not going to fight over my children, they are too precious to me to use them as weapons! I just want to protect them from more hurt and confusion. He has only been with this woman for 4 months, whos to say it will last? I think they need to slow down and give the children time to adjust thats all.

xx