LafayetteLady -> RE: Help...........Please (3/15/2010 10:52:04 AM)
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Regardless of those who have commented including the power dynamic in your relationship, that power dynamic really doesn't mean anything here. This is a relationship issue, and from the sound of things, you are in an intimate relationship with this man. As D8UD said, you knowingly got involved with a man who had children with another woman. She will ALWAYS be part of his life because of those children. You don't say how old they are, but there is college, weddings, holidays, grandchildren, baptisms/brises, on and on. Your issuing an ultimatum that it is her or you is really, in a sense, saying his children or you. So guess what? You are going to lose or he isn't a man worth having anyway. You don't mention how long they have been divorced, and yes it does make a difference. I get the sense that the divorce isn't that "old." There is a process that everyone goes through, and everyone deals with things differently. The reason they divorced is also pertinent. Even though he is "annoyed" and "stressed" by these phone calls, he also still accepts them. I suspect they were married for a long time and although the marriage ends, it can be hard sometimes to not want to discuss every little thing with the person you spent years discussing things with. You talk about her injecting negativity and being "vile and vindictive" to you, but you don't say "how." If he doesn't want her calling him at work, he needs to stop taking her calls. It is completely within his ability to do so. The fact that you say she has "known about you" your relationship for the last 2 1/2 years, but you "weren't the cause of the breakup," kind of says that you and him got together while they were separated, but not completely divorced. So guess what? In her mind, you ARE the cause of things, like it or not. Two and a half years is not a very long time to get over a long marriage, or a long relationship, especially one involving children. Under what circumstances does she even have the opportunity to be "vile and vindictive" towards you? How do you react? How does your partner react? My experience has been that the vileness tends to go both ways. The reality is that at your age, it is nearly impossible for you to become involved with a man who doesn't have a "past." However, you chose to become involved with a man who was recently separated/divorced, and who has children that will keep his ex in his life forever. You can either handle that or you can't. In time, things will likely improve, although her feelings towards you will remain hostile in all liklihood. Can you live your life that way? If you can, then explain to your partner that while you want to be with him and you want to help in whatever way you can, it bothers you to see him so stressed and ask what you can do to help. If you can't deal with it, then leave.
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