Hello my friend, you don’t know me but I do know what you’re going through, hang in there, things will get better. I know it’s a cliche but it’s true. If you ever want to chat, drop me a pm and I’ll fire over my number. It’s NEVER a problem. From my experiences us blokes when put in these situations tend to try and ‘fix it’ but you need to let things settle first. Try and relax and let things go a bit. You can only control what you are able to control. That that is out of your control, will remain out of your control and trying to control it only brings you pain. Adam
Again thanks all, this just shows how kind and supportive people can be. The doctor has given my a support groups to phone so will do that later. It’s really now starting to hit the kids, my oldest daughter is team mum, middle one is team dad and the youngest is just getting on. Me and the wife have now agreed a way forward so I can start to plan, like I said I’m a do’er so wanted to get on with things as soon as possible. When I’ve got through this and have the outcome I hopeI’ll have, I’ll have a bit of a do and hope that some or all of you can come so I can show my appreciation for the support, if we can tear you all away from Babestation!!
So the felling of loneliness is really starting to worry me. How did others fill their time, I can only walk the dog so much!!
For me it was exercise, I did a lot of mountain biking. I was single for 20 years and had no children though, what shared interest do you and your Daughter have or could develop?
I put my head down and worked; on jobs, bikes, house, education.... If I had to take holidays in employment I worked elsewhere for a couple of weeks. Also meant I was not spending so much. Worked for me but after a lot of years I looked up and the world had moved on without me noticing.
At times of stress with emotional thoughts to deal with I always found you need something to take your mind off things. You have to give your mind a rest from the thoughts that are continually circulating. Work helps if it becomes all engrossing but we can’t or shouldn’t be working all the time. Try something new. Assuming you don’t already play buy a guitar and engross yourself in learning to play, buy an old bike as a project, strip it down and rebuild it, learn how to weld. anything that fully engages your mind and where you have to concentrate on the task in hand, it will take your mind of other things and give your brain and emotions the rest they need. It will also pass the time.
Try and see beyond the brambles you are currently entangled. You are without doubt going through a shitty time, however, there's a bright future for you if you wish grasp it. This woman as done the worst possible thing to you, she is not the person you thought and certainly not the woman you married/made babies with, you have to gasp that as soon as you can, for your own sake and to protect your future. Hunker down and get through this shitty period as best you can, because once finished, these's a whole new freedom waiting for you.
I immersed myself in my yoga classes, which I still do regularly (now online). I read a lot more and indulged in my love of art house cinema. Stuff like this is very personal but I found the yoga the best help, mainly because of the type of people around you and the introduction to meditation it gave me. It's the one thing I enjoy doing on my own. Paul's suggestions of being fully immersed in something are sound, as long as you have the motivation. It's hard, and with lockdown it's a whole lot harder. Hopefully with restrictions being lifted things may get easier. Hopefully you have friends you can start to see and talk to. Happy to chat...
Thanks all, was hopping the Ducati could be this, but got to sell it to pay off debts. Was thinking PlayStation. As for the kids, the only thing that they like doing with me is going on holiday. They spend most of their time on the phone/tablet. I have started running again but can’t normally go out far as the wife is out with him so can’t stray too far from the kids.
Accept change willingly & be positive of your future. Childrens eye-sight could well be affected by all this close focusing devices imho.
I’ve never experienced this so the only thing I can offer is what happened with my close mate when he found himself exactly in your position: Take out all the alcohol, take your friends help at any hour & be civil about your wife to your kids. They’ll work it out eventually. Oh & if you can find a way to protect your pension, do that! Good luck, we’re all here, virtually or otherwise
Hi @Lumbux it sounds like your being a great dad to your kids but remember to look after yourself and take time away from your home for yourself this will help your own mental health and also stop your wife thinking she has an on call babysitter . she is there mother and they should be her priority as they are yours , I'd make myself a little less available without having a big confrontation , like the rest of the lads here happy to talk anytime !!!
Echoing what @theskitz has said above. Sounds like your wife is having her cake and eating it in the sense that she's off having fun with her fancy man and at the same time expecting you to tolerate that and stay home looking after the children. This is completely unacceptable and unreasonable behaviour and can't continue. You need to do something about it, sounds like it's beyond a "it's him or me" ultimatum. Have you already tried that? Do you want custody of the children? Huge responsibility. Sounds like she either doesn't care that much or is selfishly using you to get everything she wants. Are there any grandparents who could have them for a couple of weeks now we have the family bubble situation? Would allow you the chance to sort yourself out, find an alternative place to live.
Hi Lumbux Get the kids out running with you or take them for a walk Limited the babysitting duties See if anywhere local need volunteers I love doing puzzles Find an easy Yoga class on line Headspace is a really good app that can teach you a little about mindfulness In the evening find a series to watch. Start researching anything on line What do you like doing
Thanks all, my kids are fiercely independent, especially the oldest one. Things I like doing have all involved the wife, apart from the motorbikes so I’m a bit stuck to be honest as it’s got to go to help pay off the debts. The other problem I have is we moved away from our home town 2 years ago,to be in the country ( all done to please her) so I’m 18 miles away from friends and family. Have been walking a lot. I’m hoping to keep the house I’m in now with my middle daughter living with me and the youngest one will spread her time between me and mum, oldest said she doesn’t want to say with me at all. My pension is worth very little as my plan was always to invest in property then down size and plough that money in with up payments in the last 10 years of work, guess that’s gone out of the window now!!
Lumbux is there anyway at all that you can keep your bike any compromises as it’s the only singular thing that you do? Is there a project you could do in the garden, nature is therapeutic I think just accept (I’m sure this isn’t easy to hear) for each day that your lonely sometimes not fighting it helps. Do you read is there any books you would like to read again Do you like cooking/baking This may sound pants also but, start a diary use paper/booklet and chart this journey Write one good thing for today Write one bad thing today Good could be as simple as I enjoyed the fresh air Bad could be that we need rain Don’t make it a huge thought just simple Then when you look back at how far you came you can either keep it or say goodbye to it
What about audio books you could put your earphones in close your eyes and listen to someone reading to you It could feel like there is someone else with you