+1. The hand wringing is annoying |
If you are passionately in love and can’t imagine life without him- sure, hang in. Otherwise, the earlier you get out the less traumarptic it will be for you. This is not a journey that I could handle. |
| This sounds terrible, I’m sorry |
How is it brave ? |
| If you want to keep status quo, stay married in a hetero marriage, I would not entertain seeing a therapist who specializes in LGBTQ+ matters. Because then it might move in that direction more so. First, I would tell DH what you want and need in the marriage. Then, see what he says and proceed. |
| My DH came out as log-linear! |
| This happened to a good friend of mine. She was devastated. She’s still in individual therapy for herself and on anti depressants. They’re still married in name only because they have a young child together. He moved to San Francisco where he works and comes to visit the nuclear family from time to time. Sometimes their child goes to SF to visit him. I don’t know how my friend remains “married” to him, but different strokes for different folks. |
Yep, he is focusing on himself, so you need to focus on yourself OP. And the kids. So hard, OP. |
DP, not the OP. This is so sad for all involved. Possibly they remain legally married for health insurance or other reasons like that; unfortunately, with health care in the US tied to one's employer, people do end up doing things like remaining legally married so a would-be-ex spouse isn't left without insurance. Or there may be threats of a custody battle or other issues if they divorce. But it surely only ends up making the wife feel she cannot fully move on and be HER true self apart from the former DH who now gets to be their true self. |
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It’s ok to get a divorce. You and your children will move on, and your spouse can move on as they wish. Don't spend too much energy trying to understand. Just accept the situation and move on.
While Im not saying this is the same thing, I tell myself this as I have a sibling with serious mental illness (bipolar/schizoactive). It happened over time but became plainly obvious to everyone quite suddenly. I cant change him or make him get help. I cant understand him either. But I can work on accepting that this is who he is now and focus on my life. Where I get stuck is grieving for who he was abd our relationship/what could have been. Its not productive. |
OP, I’m sure you’re still in shock. You married a man, expecting to stay married to a man. He changed the terms of the marriage such than it’s no longer the marriage you entered. You should not be talked into staying. You’ve already been patient enough. |
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Op, for me the dilemma is how to be supportive to spouse whom you love but also true to self. As others have said it’s ok not to be attracted to a non-binary presentation and also not to want to give up a rewarding sex life for yourself. It’s also OK to say at any point that you can’t live in limbo or wait for him to figure himself out and that you simply want to move on with your own life.
You can do that by bifurcation the parenting and intimate partnerships - you can commit to supporting his choices separate from yours and still have a commitment to raising children together. There are a lot of different ways that could look - divorce, extra-marital relationships, nesting, living separately, but near, etc. You should get your own therapist so you can focus on what options you would be comfortable with and negotiate with DH. |
| I would consider separating and start a timeline for potentially divorcing. I think the time apart would help both of you think through this better. I would also assume that they want to sleep with other people in the future, whoever that might be. I’m not saying you will definitely divorce but I think living apart would be easier on all parties for the time being. |
I tend to agree. |
| Go to your own therapist immediately. You cannot control his actions or inactions. You don’t have to sit around and wait for him to make a decision. You need to figure out if you are okay being married to someone who is not straight and does not identify as just male. He definitely doesn’t. It doesn’t matter what he identifies as- it’s not what you stated you are attracted to. Get to therapy. |