Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Grief is Not About Giving Up But Giving In

"The other thing I know now is that we survive grief merely and surely by outlasting it – the ongoing fact of the narrative eclipses the heartbreak within..."Gail Caldwell, New Life, No Instructions

Tim Lawrence's recent post has gone viral. Lawrence wrote about how everything doesn't happen for a reason, something most of us know all too well. 

We know that sometimes life sucker punches us. But we also know that, even though we think our husband's affair was the worst thing that could happen to us, we can learn from pain. Even if the something we learn is the human spirit's ability to survive things we didn't think were survivable. And that our ability to refrain from justifiable homicide is awe inspiring.
Tim Lawrence makes the point that, when we're brought to our knees by heartbreak of any kind, the only sane response is grief. It's a point I frequently make too, such as here. And here
It's not a popular opinion to hold. We don't like grief. Grief feels passive and there's little our culture hates more than passivity. We like a can-do attitude. We like stories of triumph over adversity. We want heroes. And we want those heroes to be fierce and formidable.
Grief? That's for old women who wear black. For those who've given up.
Right?
Wrong.
Grief is a recognition of our pain, an acknowledgement of our loss. In a culture that offers myriad ways to insulate ourselves from this pain – from drugs to sex to food to cat videos on YouTube – just sitting with it is heroic. And sitting with another in her pain, without trying to fix or reduce it or somehow control it – is downright revolutionary.
We can't fast-track grief. There's no going over it or under it or around it. Those who try will find grief emerges in strange places, baffling us with tears when we think we're happy. Or numbing us from feeling anything at all. 
Grief is a shape-shifter and only when we give in to it do we begin to recognize the many forms it takes. Sometimes tears, sometimes laughter, sometimes a belief that nothing matters, other times a conviction that everything does. And always a deep crack in our hearts.
But to give in to it is also where healing takes root. Tiny seeds of compassion and wisdom are sown in the fertile soil of our pain and nourished with our tears. The day will come – I promise – when the dark cloud of grief becomes the sunlight toward which our healing bends. If we have shown ourselves compassion for our grief, we become better able to extend that compassion to others. If we have been gentle with ourselves in our grief, we become better able to be gentle with others. If we have been merciful with ourselves, we are better able to show mercy to others. Grief has softened us even as it as strengthened.
We haven't outwitted grief, or outsmarted it. But we have endured it. And our life goes on.
What this means for you is that this is going to be a long road. But here you will find those who understand your grief and feel no need to transform it. It's enough to be with you in your grief, and for you to join us in ours.



39 comments:

  1. I read tim's blog along with many others. It hit home in the wake of my life post D Day. This dealing with pain and grief is hard. I like to control what is going on in my life. I work hard to have things fall into place. My husbands affairs have rocked all of that. I can look back and see now that my coping mechanism was to control my parts. Which I guess is good. I tried over and over to reach him but got excuses about work, agrees, fatigue, etc. At a certain point I decided I am going to be happy and do the best at my life and I cannot make him happy. Little did I know it was affairs, guilt, shame etc dragging him down.

    Per my husband's recommendation I did start therapy. And we just talked about the grief. And my therapist said that he would worry if I came in and said everything is great and we are all good 6 months post d day. That it takes time and dealing with the grief and healing will be a process. I know it has been said here. But him saying that almost gave me permission to grieve and not feel like a failure for getting over it more quickly. I struggle since my husband is doing everything right but I still lack the ability to forgive and trust him again, again the therapist said give it time don't beat yourself up for this.

    It has helped a lot to deal with the grief. I totally agree with the fact that everything does not happen for a reason. I think that is a hard thing to face. We like explanations that make sense it makes us feel more comfortable with life. But as I have learned all I can do is learn to cope and work through it. And be patient which is a new skill set I am working on. And who knew I could be this strong? Again another new revelation.

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    1. Hopeful30,
      We're a nation of quick-fixers. We want results and we want them NOW. Grief can't be hurried. It takes as long as it takes. And given how little most of us understand affairs (who among us thought they'd be pissed off, kick him out and that'd be that, raise your hands), we can't believe just how undone we are by the pain of betrayal.
      Your therapist sounds smart and compassionate. Hallelujah for that! You are strong but strong isn't the same as magical. You're healing even if you can't quite see it yet. Give yourself the time to heal fully and deeply from this.

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  2. Giving in to grief is a mountain to climb but your right I needed to feel the full court press to get over this. The link to the article helped me so much. A remodeling of our heart can be painful. Portraits of grief is trying to replaced by portraits of mercy. Carpenters want to add a few shelfs, sure or totally rebuild the west wing. Complete restoration. Walls of grief demolished and foundations restored. Falling down is part of life. Getting back up is part of living but also the hard part. The restoration of my heart moves so slowly.

    AND (not but)

    I don't give up
    The road is long so I don't stop
    For all I know the check maybe in the mail.
    Another apology maybe in the making.
    I'm not quitting or I may miss the answers I'm seeking no matter how bad this hurts.

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    1. Lynn less pain
      The links to this post has touched me as well! When Elle was posting them, we were still dealing with the ow. Reading this after the past 10 months gives credence to what we have been through and where we have made it to! I constantly get strength from what Elle's posts say but I get even more from the responses from the others willing to share on this blog! You inspire me to stay strong! Thanks for being here!

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  3. I have given in to grief. But I think I am giving up on my marraige. It was heading down that path pre-day, and the inconsiderate and egocentric attitudes that drove my husband to hook up with a skank and porn, rather than face his shortcomings persist. I wasted my 30s to blindly wading through a life filled with lack of accountability and consistent childish behavior. Now I am looking at my 40s and anticipating that 66% of that behavior will remain. Not sure if I give in or give up.
    MBS

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    1. MBS,
      I'm so sorry. It can be hard to figure out when you're "giving up" on a marriage or when you're simply acknowledging reality and getting out. You don't need to stay in a marriage that is sucking your energy and your optimism. Unless you're seeing genuine change and an honest commitment to figuring out why he went down that path, then chances are not enough will change to make the marriage a healthy and happy one. An unwillingness to examine his shortcomings generally means that he's not all that interested in changing anything. Which means you can expect to spend your 40s doing pretty much what you did in your 30s -- dealing with his lack of accountability and childish behaviour.
      MBS, you deserve a partner who's truly remorseful and wants more for both of you. Is he that partner? Or is it time to release yourself from wishing things were different?

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  4. I'm rambling and while going through this grief, pain and hurt it is hard not to go underground or subterranean. It is almost like being in a secret society. Makes me sad. Everything is fine, less pain and my husband is talking, showing emotion and is thoughtful in all ways. I'm his focus and my happiness is his focus. But thinking back about Halloween. Where do these thoughts come - intruders into my happiness. He and the OW texted each other too many times at Halloween. I was working not home. When I'm honest with myself I'm also grieving about me. I could have cared less if I wasn't home. We had turned into Zombies by then. I didn't care about his needs. I just plan stop caring about sex, emotions, I totally shut him down and out. Yes, there are plenty of reasons of why I did and many are his fault. But just like he didn't say anything to me about his unhappiness, I didn't tell him I was miserable too. I think back to why didn't I? My therapist says I over think everything. Some days my mind has no off switch, like today. I'm grieving for all I didn't do - me. I know our life has changed so much and I found my voice so I know with certainty and practice, voicing my wants, needs, disappointments and anger comes out at will. Maybe when things are going good I start to get scared about me. Just venting and rambling. Glad this place is here.

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  5. Your words are so inspiring Elle. I have been grieving my loss every day since D-Day. I have cried every day for the last 3 months. I never knew I had so many tears in me. The first days it was worst though, I felt like screaming all the time. Screaming out my frustration, my deceit, my pain. Three days after D-day a friend of mine, my sister and me decided to go para-sailing. If was a ride of about 20 min, and all that time that we were all three up there in the sky, we screamed ourselves out. Me for my H betrayal, my friend for her divorce (not same reasons, but equaly painful), and my sister to support us. It was fun and at the same time very sad. I don´t have the need to scream anymore, but the crying, well, I think that might take longer. But when I am alone, I don´t refrain it, I let it come, and let the tears flow. Keeping them inside is worse and as you say in your post, they will end up coming out sooner o later.

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    1. Butterfly,
      That is such a great idea! I love it. Glad you screamed yourself out. The tears, well yes, that will take time. But that will abate too. The key is letting yourself feel your pain, knowing that feelings are transitory.

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  6. Im approaching 6mo from dday. I was struck to the core by emotional pain, heartache and an unsettling in my world i thought i knew so well. Currently i can add im dealing with a physical condition that has me restricted, limited and much time on my hands its going to be a road to healing and or perhaps surgery. .. fixable either way they think so for that im thankful. I have nevet dealt with either of the above before this year and im learning alot about me. I can now certianly say ive felt both physcial and emotional pain so deep im amazed im still standing but u know what i am. Your right Elle im being dealt a HUGE helping of control or more so things arent really always able to be controlled and while im finding my bearings some good days, bad, scared ... what have you .. i am learning above all else perfect was overrated hostess with mostest, top dog at work, best mom, wife and on and on ... maybe overrated. ... all i really need to be is me without so much pressure, effort maybe when were down we wouldn't fall so hard and more importantly obviously no matter how hard we fall ... we can get up but it will be the 4 letter word time that conquers all. We can change direction or sit idle till we figure it out. Maybe the road less traveled of being imperfect but simply being would be a nice change of scenery. ... i dont think these things happening to me make me better but maybe just different and accepting my H affair my physical issues and current i cant do it all vs my feeling of previously being super woman is ok ... even if it feels foreign. .. vulnerable and damn right scary some days. We can manage mantain and even triumph on our own terms because of it. Guess i was just thinking outloud or rambling to all you warrior princesses ... happy halloween may each and everyone of you see sparkles of fairydust to glitter your broken hearts or whatever else you maybe going thru. Im trying to remain positive each day and sit with my feeling to accept my pain, be vulnerable or be strong whatever im feeling at that time. Its my choice to move as i see fit each and everyday. These two instances are the most trying times ive know in my life so far ... but im still standing ... wounded not broken .... chant chant chant giving into doesnt mean giving up it means releasing yourself from it ... still a long way to go ... but going ... one day at a time

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    1. Wounded,
      My mother used to listen to me go on about all the balls I was juggling -- I didn't complain so much as just let her know, eager to hear the accolades of how awesome I was. Instead, she would listen and then really gently she would say to me that all I ever need to do was "just show up". I never understood what she meant. And I thought, like most daughters think, that my mom was clueless about what I NEEDED to do. After all, I had three kids, I had a career, I had a house to keep, pets to care for, a world to save. And then my husband cheated. Six months later, my mom died the same day my book was published. The next weeks were a blur of promotion for my book and dealing with the grief of both my husband's betrayal and the loss of my mom. I put on my waterproof mascara for whatever TV show I was going on to talk about my book (and compartmentalized the grief re. my husband and mom) and inevitably the segment went great. It took me a while to realize that I wasn't juggling. All I had the emotional space for was "just showing up". And it worked. It was such an eye-opener for me. I wasn't impressing anyone with all my juggling. I was exhausting myself. All I'd ever had to do was "just show up" and be myself. With my pain. My grief. My excitement about my book. And that's all you have to do, Wounded. Right now, just show up. You're enough.

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    2. Crying my eyes out ... thanks for sharing your mothers token of wisdom with me. Im enough ... i needed that in so many different ways right now. Thank you ... thank you ... thank you ... one day at a time or better yet ... i just need to show up!

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    3. Wounded,
      If all anyone who comes to this blog ever gets from it is the absolute recognition that she is enough and that she has always been enough, then it will have been worth everything.

      Delete
  7. I admit this has little to do with grief but had to share this gem. My husband and I have a meeting every Sunday for an hour to talk. Sometimes it is heated, short, long or just OK. This Sunday was different. I was calm. I'm 23 months past D day. Our Antiversary is Nov 10th. I started to get anxious. On Sat I tried to numb myself with alcohol didn't work so by Sunday I'm pretty amped up. Anyway he sits me down and says I know something is going on. What is wrong? I explain I'm getting anxious about Nov 10th. He tells me he feels the same way. We decided last year to forget it. He said, it is just one on a calendar, he said tries to celebrate our marriage everyday, and tries to keep changing to be a better man everyday. He says everyday he is thankful that I didn't leave and how strong our marriage has become. Everyday is is an Anniversary it is not just one day a year.

    I press on to questions. I said you told her many negative things about me to her. I want you to do the same for me so tell me what you didn't like about her. To my surprise the list was longer than what I expected. He has learned so much about himself and his view has changed about his affair as he looks back. He said ---- 1. She whined constantly. 2. He got tired of her soap box drama life. 3. Someone was always out to get her, or the teachers a work were talking about her to get her in trouble. 4. He got tired of her expectations and demands like wine, bring her coffee, lunch. He resented that. 5. Her house was dirty 6. She wanted to see him more than he wanted to see her, he got tired of that 7. He resented how she expected him to drop everything to get her what she wanted. 8. Everyday was a crisis. 9. He loaned her $500 and he asked her for it back. She said "Look at all I do for you" he said in that exact moment he knew what the affair was about. He said immediately in his mind, she is mentally unstable At that moment it was over for him.

    Then I said you told the OW how bad our sex life was in details. So give me the same courtesy tell me what you didn't like about the OW in bed? 1. It was only exciting from the standpoint it was forbidden. She wasn't exciting. 2. It became routine, just sex. 3. She didn't do anything more as far as technique compared to me, she did less. 4. It was just sex he said like a prostitute no caring, no love just get the job done. He said phone sex could have accomplished the same thing. Surprisingly, he shared he had this attitude about women who he dated before me. Here I am, do you want to screw, no dinner, no movie nothing's special. The women would call him say do you want to come over.? Yes, walk in, screw and leave in the morning. He had three girlfriends at one time while he was in college. He said the affair was the same way. He would walk in, she was the aggressor, all over him, sex, stay an hour then go home.

    He said he didn't know how to show true emotion or true love until after Dday. I said "why didn't you divorce me? He said he truly loved me the entire time he was with her but didn't know what to do or how to turn things around. He had too many resentments toward me that started small and grew over the several years. Some true and some of his own making. He told the OW he loved me and would never leave me. The OW confirmed this was true. The moral is he is telling the heart truth finally to me, not the sexual positions, restaurants, gifts and he is not deceiving himself which is more important to me. His justifications have a limited shelf life. Not to say I have all the truth but I'm getting down to the nitty gritty heart truth.

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    1. Lynn,
      Wow. That's really WOW. The fact that he approached YOU to figure out what was wrong is huge. The fact that he was able to really be clear-eyed about just what he was thinking and why he felt unable to get out is HUGE. He's done a lot of work on himself. No excuses. No defences. Just...I screwed up big-time and here's how it happened.
      I can't say I'm "happy" for you because that's nuts. But I do feel as though he's becoming the partner you deserve. And that's really great.

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    2. Lynn,

      I have been trying to get back to this amazing passage finding it one of the most amazing and helpful descriptions of a window being opened and light allowed into the room. Your powerful "Give me the same courtesy..." Tell me about the story, give me the facts that were stolen and help me shed light on the world you elected to create without me knowing.

      You also asked somewhere about hysterical bonding and sex and I wonder had I missed the real question. Are you talking about exploring all the issues around sex after betrayal? Triggers, Fears, Trust, for some revulsion after the 'discovery'. So many countless questions. The issues of 'safe' sex? This seems and endless discussion and exploration and I applaud you bringing it up.

      In any case I value your brave exploration and marvel how you go right into the pain and flames and turn it into something else and I'm grateful to be a participant (as one also betrayed) as well as witness to your journey.

      Hope you even see this being an older post....

      Much love

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  8. Hi....so it turns out that me giving up and saying I had found the courage to walk away, was enough to push my husband into taking drastic action.

    For the first time since this began six long months ago we have had proper dialogue. It feels good. I am finally starting to allow myself to grieve without punishing myself afterwards.

    I still don't know what the future holds, we may well go our separate ways, but for now I will take the new, open dialogue we are having as a positive.

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    1. So great, Clover. Whatever happens, you'll be just fine.

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  9. Lynn and Clover, good for you both. I love what Elle says, "the next right step." It applies to not only affair recovery; it applies to life. Love you ladies :-)

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    1. Melissa,
      My friend, a longtime 12-stepper, always reminds me of the "next right step". Honestly, it makes life so much easier. Or as I read recently: We only need to see the next step, not the whole staircase.

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  10. Lynn ... Your story landed with me so incredibly. I think this is what I need to heal ... Learn from him about her shortcomings.
    But we are only 4 mo after Dday. We are doing really well. It is for both of us the marriage we wanted to be in. For me, that he cares, he notices, he makes an effort to do what I like doing ( like going for walks ... before he used to say that only old people go for walks and suggest that we jog together!). For him, I come across as someone who cares, is less independant, allows for some of his shortcomigs. We have 2 teenage boys who are truly wonderful and they are also for us a big reason to be together as a family and to show them how family cars about each other.
    He hates to go back to those 5 yrs (on and off he claims). He is shattered when I push him thhere with questions. He prefers to tell me who I am for him now and how much his perception of me changed.
    And still the grief comes back and in my case it is still connected with the anger at ow. She sent me a mail copying him and wrote that after 5 yrs she has enough and that I won him. This was awfully painful for me. So yes, sometimes I would love to hear from him that she is an awful person. And yes, sometimes I dream that if I meet her I will do something vicious to her.
    And now I think that maybe just hearing from him that she was not worthy it and tell me what he did not like about her would help.

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    1. I think we all need to know that our partner deeply regrets the time/energy he spent with the affair partner. And it can really help to know that he now has a clearer picture of who she really was.
      I'm glad you two are rebuilding in a way that feels right to you. The grief takes a long time to abate. You have a lot to grieve. Give yourself the time you need to heal.

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  11. The weekend was up and down. The kids had a great Halloween. We had the 2 months anniversary of Dday on Sunday, and I didn't think much about it. But on Monday I grieved. All day long. And what's the point of telling H? To make him feel guilty? There is very little he can do right now. I'd like to have a talk and ask some more questions, but we are always too busy for it. Last night I curled up against his chest, his strong, solid muscular chest. I always loved to do that, it made me feel so safe. But last night I curled up against his chest and just quietly grieved, because the safe feeling is gone. Will it ever come back?
    I am seeing a therapist on Friday for the first time, and I'm terrified. What if it is awkward? What if it is terrible? Where on earth do I begin? There is so much to tell, so much to say, so much inside me. So many questions, so many fears. I have no earthly idea where to start. Anybody got insights into how to handle the first day of therapy?

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    1. Phoenix,
      Two months out is still really raw. And I imagine your upcoming appointment has you a bit on edge too because you're going to have to go over a lot of the stuff that you've been able to keep somewhat aside.
      Be gentle with yourself. A good therapist will help you feel comfortable. She will remind you that anything you say is safe and confidential. She will let you cry and vent. She's (he's??) seen it all. Believe me, this is nothing new to them.
      Just give yourself this safe place to work through all the pain.

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    2. I went to my first therapy all ready to bitch about the other woman and my husband. In the end we talked much more about my childhood...how my mother left me at a young age with an alcoholic father to raise my little sister. Turns out from therapy that a lot of my personal issues (need to feel in control, make sure everyone is happy/ safe etc) stem from these early years.

      Seems obvious now, but at the time I didn't even think that my childhood had any bearing on my own marriage. Turns out it does. Hugely.

      I am six months out from Dday, but my husband kept in touch with the OW right up until August. It's been a crappy, TOUGH six months...some of it is still raw for me.

      I am a work-in-progress. I don't know if we will make it or not. But me? I will make it as a human being. Although this has been the worst six months of my life, I'm learning so much about myself, and I like what I'm learning!

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    3. Clover,
      Insight goes a long way toward giving us the space to be compassionate with ourselves and recognizing the ways in which we can sometimes get in our own way. You're right. Whatever else happens, you're going to be just fine.

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  12. Phoenix it's your first session so take your time, when you get there you will know where you want to start. I remember weeks after d day going to the doctors and bursting into tears it was so unexpected but luckily my doctor dealt with it brilliantly. I'd actually gone for an injury I sustains from running my ass of trying to get rid of my anger and frustration lol. You'll be just fine glad your taking the time to speak to someone who will help you deal with this traumatic event. Let us know how you get on and good luck xx

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  13. I feel so sad today, grieving for the loss of my marriage and knowing it will never be again the relationship i thought it was. It probably never was the relationship I thought it was - I feel
    like such a fool. Grieving because although my H does love me, not enough to do certain things. Grieving because it hurts so much to know our marriage is not the most important thing to him. Maybe our marriage is about 3rd in line...... I feel grief is overwhelming me not that I am giving in to it. How do I grieve and then heal on my own because right now I don't think my H is capable to help me.

    Thank you all - thank you Elle, at least here I know I am not alone. Love and support to all those here.

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  14. You are definitely not alone, Becky. We know how you feel. You sound so much like me. We will get through this one day at a time - sonetimes one hour at a time! Ride it out, sister, we are here for you.

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  15. Becky this is the time that your husband really should be doing Everything that he can to help you and if he's not capable, at least you know YOU are. You truly are.

    It's so so difficult even when both partners are on the same page, I cannot imagine what it is like if you are on different pages.

    We have ALL felt like fools when the reality is we were not the ones who made the foolish choices. I am so sorry you are surfing the wake of the disaster he caused, alone. Better to do that though, than trying to tow an anchor with you. Grief always feels overwhelming, until you come to know it a bit better and although you cannot control it, you will come to know that you can get through it. We will be thinking about you. We totally get you. We've got you.

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  16. Part 1- Counterproductive but I'm grieving about Christmas and it is not even here yet. Christmas eve and day were the two days in the year my mom was super nice to me and my sister. She didn't criticize, belittle, make us earn our gifts, take our gifts away, she was just a normal mom for 2 days. So with our family I made sure those two days were perfect because I loved Christmas time feeling safe, warmed and loved. I wanted to bake dozens of cookies, make gingerbread houses, ornaments and when money was tight the kids and I made Christmas gifts. I wanted to do all that not because I was suppose to, I wanted to and loved it.

    Fast forward to my husband affair actions for three years. He bought nicer gifts for psycho-kindergarten teacher than me. His lame excuse was "I got what was on your list." My list was inexpensive because he set a dollar limit on how much we would spend on each other. So I asked for practical gifts. He acted like and verbalized his distaste on seeing the amount of money spent on gifts. I heard from him is "we don't have the money."

    He bought a nice watch for her supposedly before he was poking his prostitute in order to poke her. I'm not buying it. He figured he would get on the Christmas lay-away poking plan. He order her a glitzy watch on Amazon along with the shitty gifts he bought me. The same order no less. You can see in the same order vacuum cleaner and watch. The only difference was he paid $22 to gift wrap hers. The next year he bought her an expensive necklace. AgaIn more beautiful than than what he bought me cast iron pot, a phone from eBay which didn't work I had to throw it away, and a dehydrator. He was an ass the entire time, which I didn't understand at the time. I cried both years on Xmas day. I was so disappointed in him, I called my sister crying and said am I crazy? Selfish? Am I asking too much? He was not participating with the family or me. He didn't help me shop, he didn't even know what the kids were getting until they opened their gifts. He chose not to participate. Little did I know he and the OW had their own little Christmas. He was participating with her. He lost three years of his life with his family. I can see him putting the necklace on her, then kissing her. She shows her appreciation by poking him. D-day was in December he was asking her what perfume she wore why not? He is already thinking about on Christmas number three instead of how to leave her. The perfume was expensive. The last piece of jewelry he gave me was in 2008 and it was fake diamond studs. The first Christmas I knew about the affair, my son called me and said I looked so sad he thought I was mad at him.

    When I went to see her and I asked to see the necklace. She thought is was cheap, a fake and I didn't tell her, it was real diamonds and gold. She told me he liked her to wear it while they were poking each other. He has always liked necklaces and poking at the same times so it is true. Thanks for the mind movies bitch.

    I now hate Christmas without a doubt or want anything to do with Christmas. My therapist is working with me. I told her today, I cannot go back to the Christmas I love.

    What kind of man gives the OW nicer gifts (he was suppose to be trying to leave her) so why not give her socks, gloves, scarf something NOT ROMANTIC instead of watch, necklace and almost perfume? The first lie was he was thinking of buying it for me, the second lie was he hadn't decided who to buy it for. He has not bought me perfume since 2005 which was 7 years ago do I look that stupid? He was going for romantic Christmas number three with his prostitute. Meanwhile your wife is crying on Christmas. What kind of man does it take to dish this shit up? He gave me memories today, now, by ruining two days that was special my entire life. This doesn't make sense to me. No sense at all, he is trying to leave her yet buy her romantic gifts. Someone lies to themselves and it is not me.

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  17. Part. 2 I told my therapist I'm tired of being the one to get over and it. I'm not sucking this one up, I just don't have it in me. I'm running on empty in the just "suck this one up" car and the gas gauge is faulty except I don't know when the tank is totally empty. I look at the gas gauge and all indicators say I have gas left to get to the destination at least a quarter of a tank. But I know my tank is almost empty. His cum was in her mouth, back, between her tits, I don't care anymore about that, really and truly. I'm tired of fighting another one of his bad choices. He ruined three Christmas in a row so he could get poked. He took my feelings of safe, warm and loved and let it run up and down her cunt. How quickly he forgets, he doesn't think about the OW unless I bring it up and IT IS EASY TO FORGET IF IT WAS NOT DONE TO YOU. I will never put up a tree, buy gifts, decorate the house, bake cookies, prepare a feast and I lost that special feeling anymore for my magical Christmas.

    Someone may say, aren't you just hurting yourself? No, I'm not so don't judge my feelings if you haven't walked in my path. I'm near empty don't you get it? If that is all someone can say to me, I don't need them either.

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    1. Oh Lynn, I'm so sorry for how you're feeling. I think it must be something for kids of dysfunctional homes where Christmas comes to represent "normal". My own childhood Christmases generally sucked (there was the really sucky one when my grandmother told me my mother tried to kill herself because I was such a horrible daughter. I was 12) so, as an adult, I created these magazine-perfect Christmases to prove to myself and the world that I was just like everybody else. See? I'm worthy? Thing is, like you, not everybody would go along with my plan and that just pissed me off.
      I realized a few years ago that if Christmas mattered to me -- baking cookies, decorating the tree (that nobody wanted to help with), putting up lights -- then I was going to have to do it just because I got pleasure out of it. If others wanted to join in, they were welcome to. But that even if they didn't (and they often didn't), then I did what I wanted anyway because I liked it. I love coming in my home when it's decorated. I love the lights. I love the music. I love giving thoughtful gifts.
      My in-laws always gave me gifts that made it clear they hadn't a clue who I was or what I liked. My husband has stepped up his game a bit in the gift-givign department but I've had to learn that he will never be a really thoughtful gift-giver. That's just not in his repertoire. Doesn't mean he doesn't love me. He shows it in different ways, like (no kidding!) buying me the best snow tires for my car so I'm safe.
      All this is a long way of saying that you get to decide what and how you're going to celebrate (or not!) this year. And you won't get any argument from me about what a grade-A dick your husband was. Total asshole. If he is still that asshole, then give yourself the Christmas gift of throwing him to the curb. But if he's not, then consider giving yourself the gift of reimagining Christmas this year. Whatever you want it to be. Gifts. No gifts. Tree. No tree. An escape to somewhere tropical. A volunteer stint at a soup kitchen. Figure out what will work for you. That Christmas fantasy you and I have of the perfect family? Total fantasy. Even families that aren't as fucked up as ours were didn't have perfect Christmases. It doesn't exist. But that doesn't mean we can't still create something that suits where we are now. And it can change every single year depending on where you are emotionally.
      Me? I'll be baking cookies (and eating the dough) with my kids who do actually like doing that with me. I'll be putting up a tree (by myself). Decorating it (probably by myself) and getting nostalgic over all the decorations that survived my own messed up childhood. I'll be listening to Celine Dion and Josh Groban sing their hearts out about Christmas (while my kids roll their eyes and my husband shuts the door so he can hear the TV). I'll watch the TV specials. I'll invite friends over to drink wine and warm by the fire. Yeah my husband cheated. And yeah, I found out days before Christmas in 2006. That Christmas was horrible. I screamed at my parents, especially my mom, having no idea it would be my last Christmas with her. I drove around like a wild woman looking for the OW's apartment so I could give her an earful. I ruined Christmas for my entire family that year. But that was then.
      Your call, Lynn. You get to do this however you want. I can hear how empty you are. I'm so so sorry.

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    2. Lynn ... i feel your pain ... my Dday .... mother's day weekend! Yippee for me huh a day solely for me shit on. .. i get where u are coming from totally the holidays have me on edge too .... our first since dday forget the turkey. .. cancel christmas ... bahhhhh hum bug! I have though thoughts and then i also think why should my happy be stolen. Why does the ow deserve that power? Better yet maybe i should throw my all out dinner party bcuz that family cheer my family cheer is what the ow wanted my H my security my family togetherness. Christmas isnt about her, him or all the traditional bullshit we are feed to believe thats how it should be . It simply should be what you want it to be weather thats something or nothing Elle right your call...... i may shed a tear or two and it might not be my huge shin dig unless my medical condition improves but if nothing ekse i will celebrate somehow cause i deserve it and unselfishly my kid derserves it ... im sorry u are feeling so empty. ... i feel ut pain and im sending you a hug.

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    3. Lynn. I felt so sad when I read your post. I'm finding coping with his affair so hard myself at the moment and know what you mean when you say you are empty. I like you have always loved christmas and agree with Elle, do it for you. I don't know if it helps but none of us imagined a marriage where our husbands would have an affair and yet after the devastation we are picking ourselves up and trying to rebuild our lives, many of us trying to rebuild our marriages. Our lives are different now but we are all I think looking for those moments of happiness in them. Maybe it would help if you look at Christmas the same way. It can be good again, maybe different but still good. Maybe new beginnings, new holiday traditions. Whatever you decide for the upcoming holidays I wish you happiness.

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  18. Thank you so much Elle, Wounded and Alone, once again you all pull me out of the well of despair and no hope. This sounds pathetic but It never thought to make it what Christmas anything different than "you did me wrong" carole. I love the word reimagine, Elle. How in hell can you always cut through the wasteland of my being a victim and turn it into a word of hope like reimagining? I was never allowed to change my mind and all self-expression ended up being my fault. I never realized I could create win at I'm happy with. I have several weeks to think about what that looks like. Thank you again for dishing up hope with choices, an escape hatch from the pain of it all. Wounded your right also why should I give the psych bitch prostitute my Christmas time too. You all gave me the gas to go further down the road maybe a a gallon or two. Being stuck on the road side without gas is lonely, scary and panicking. I had my blog cell phone and called my friends to come get me. I'm forever grateful and feel sad but better somehow at the same time. Also Elle the words of illusion come to the surface. I'm still getting out of the betrayed fog of illusions.

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    1. Lynn,
      You've got so much more to wade through that your husband's betrayal (as if THAT isn't enough). You're also having to sift through all the unhealthy stuff you learned as a kid and recognize how it continues to dictate so much of how you move in this world.
      Of course, you can change your mind. You're in charge of yourself now. You get to do whatever the hell you want. Christmas. No Christmas. Christmas in April. Whatever works for you.

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  19. Lynn, your post and the responses that the others posted were so timely for me. I'm struggling with Thanksgiving. My mom passed away the day before Thanksgiving. This will be the twelve year anniversary of her death. It is hard for me every year. She loved Thanksgiving and Christmas. She made those holidays special. The first anniversary I spent getting drunk in a bar in Key West. I just couldn't do Thanksgiving that year. Slowly after a few years, I started easing back into celebrating it. When I had kids, I started trying to make it the awesome traditional day it always was for my family. Last year, things were bad for my husband and I but I wasn't aware of his affair at that point. I was struggling on the anniversary of her death which happened to fall the day before Thanksgiving. I remember sitting on the couch next to my husband that night after the kids were in bed and just falling apart. It seemed like he was oblivious to what was going on until I said that it was all about missing my mom. Fast forward to December when I discovered his cell phone records and realized that he had spent 3 HOURS on the phone with the OW that day. And I found out several weeks later that she had called him as she was dealing with the loss of her father-in-law. (Yes, the father of the man she was cheating on! And she turned to the person she was cheating WITH for consolation! WTF?). Of the many hurtful things he did, this one has cut pretty deep. Putting it in writing even hurts. Could he have been a bigger asshole? We've talked and talked. At that time, he was so screwed up, caught up in his double life, oblivious to the date and oblivious to my pain until I actually pointed it out. He realizes now what an asshole he was on that day. He realizes he was an asshole most of the time during the affair.
    So here we are nearly a year later and this year that date is actually the day of Thanksgiving. My husband and I have talked about how much I'm dreading this day. It's like a double whammy this year, with the anniversary of my mom's death and the memories of where his head was last year. At his suggestion the other night, we made the decision to do something different, something that will be special to us and our family. We made a decision to take that day back. We're trying to do that slowly with every aspect of our lives that were impacted by the affair.
    I wanted to thank you for putting your feelings and your sadness out there because it helped me to acknowledge what I was dealing with. While it hurt me to read the pain in your post, I always admire your courage in sharing that pain. I read it and knew, once again, that I was not alone. Hearing what the others (Ellle, Wounded, and Alone) said in response strengthened the decision we made to make this Thanksgiving about us. I have to keep reminding myself that the affair has taken enough.
    Thanks, ladies! You all always come through at the right times, sometimes without even knowing it.

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    1. Dandelion,
      That's wonderful that you're reimagining Thanksgiving for your family. I think sometimes we feel like there's a blueprint for a "perfect" holiday and it doesn't include our deceased mothers and cheating husbands so we can't imagine how it can be different than simply pain served alongside a turkey. I think it's important to acknowledge the pain - to not pretend that everything's great when it's not. But also to recognize what there is to be grateful for. To miss your mother so much reveals that she must have been a really amazing mom, which makes you a lucky daughter. To know that your husband is NOT the asshole he was last year might not make you "lucky" but it certainly bodes well for your marriage and your family. And that's worth celebrating.

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