| It sounds OP like you are stuck until the youngest kid turns 18. This is no different than many many women I know. And there’s tons of threads here on DCUM where women are staying in abusive relationships to protect the kids. Like them, you can either stay or go. |
You can't "fix" a spouse who has mental health problems. They can't even fix those problems themselves; they can't just say "OK, I have decided not to be mentally ill now". Often they don't even believe they are mentally ill. You also can't fix someone who simply lacks affection or desire for you. You cannot control it. Neither can they. If they don't feel affection or desire, they can't just decide to feel those things. Did anyone grow up with parents who showed each other no affection? How did that affect you? |
It does not appear to have affect my oldest. They seem to be in a loving relationship. My youngest also seems to also be affectionate. Really only time will tell. |
+1, my parents weren't super affectionate. I am and have a very different relationship with my husband than my parents had. |
There is far more to this story than what you are say and there is probably a reason why she doesn't want you to touch her. You are very very selfish just based on your posts. You are probably having an affair and justifying leaving your wife. Do her and your kids a favor and leave already. |
So, you basically are walking away from your kids. You need to take them 50% of the time and take them back/forth to school, activities and friends. Trust me, they know you are cheating. |
You are a psycho troll. Stop making crap up. |
Btw.. I have done more driving kids to school, sports, activities, friends than DW and still do. I have been a very active dad. I don’t want to “leave” my kids. I communicate with them several time a day through text and social media. I love them. You must have really been hurt. I hope that you are able to heal and move on. |
| OP - I think a few people are being way too harsh on you. You sound like a very thoughtful person and a great dad who is confused about how to navigate a very difficult situation. Even if your wife won't go, I would get you and your DD into family therapy. She may be seeing a lot of things you aren't even aware of and seeing you make an effort to be a stronger family could have a big impact. And maybe it would get your wife to go as well if she saw you and DD going. |
| I got divorced when my son and daughter were in middle school and both thanked me separately. No regrets on not waiting. |
NP here. If someone refuses to get help for their mental health or addiction, I don’t think you are a terrible person to not throw yourself in the pit with them. I’m one of the people that constantly says on DCUM fix the marriage or leave. Don’t start an affair. I don’t think it’s realistic for both people to stay in a marriage “for the kids” for years on end without one or both of them wanting to have a physical relationship with someone else. It sounds like OP is would have been willing to fix the marriage but DW wants the benefits of marriage with none of the work and wants him to stay for the kids.
Divorcing when the kids leave for college has its own issues. My parents did this and it was still hard in some ways. You still have a lot going on your first year away from home and it felt like the rug was pulled from under us. Also at all the milestone events, graduation, engagement, kids, I had to adjust to my parents not being a unit and we never really transitioned - it’s not like I was used to handling that from middle school or high school. Also, when kids are younger, parents can bring them to therapy/May seek the advice of a professional on how to handle things. When your kids are an adult, you can’t make them, go to therapy and are unlikely to assume they are fine. Yet they can have lots of emotions not only around the divorce but what life was like in the house with 2 parents that didn’t love each other and had conflict - this can impact their current behavior and how they view future romantic relationships. Middle school is typically crappy no matter what. I would actually say to divorce before high school so high school is a fresh start with the new normal. Stay close to DD, make sure you have joint custody and no one can move away with dd, keep her involved in the activities she care about - that gives some stability. if therapy for you and/or daughter seems like a good idea, do it. Consider NAMI (National Association of Mental Illness) and educated yourself and your dd if you haven’t already. Hold off on any new romantic relationships while both and your dd are healing and adjusting. You don’t want to throw gas on the fire by adding a new romantic relationship while in the midst of what can be a difficult divorce after what was described as a difficult marriage with a pre-teen daughter. |
I'd say my spouse's parents were like this. No affection, no kissy nibbles, no verbal I Love Yous. Husband is a terrible verbal communicator - with me, with them, with others, with our kids. However his parents are both homebodies so I always thought it worked out. I also noticed the father is the absent-minded nutty professor type so I think MIL likes always running everything and tending to him. This has made it so my husband does not have a good role model for parenting or being romantic or connecting well. He does it a teasing playful way, but not in a deep, loving way. |
OP, if someone is rolling their eyes at you, there is a different original problem that needs to be fixed, not glossed over. Fix that and you will be attractive, trustworthy, and reliable again to her. |
Communicating through text and social media is not being an active Dad. Leaving and not working on your relationship is not being an active Dad. |
Laying in bed all day while depressed is not being an active Mom. |