1 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: Hey, there are folks. It is Monday, August eighteenth, and 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:09,960 Speaker 1: one of our readers to our Yahoo column Brenda. She 3 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: wrote in and she needs a little relationship advice. You see, 4 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: she's a second wife and her husband's grandkids. Well they're 5 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: not the problem. Actually it's grandma. Yeah, grandma one if 6 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: you will. So what exactly is a woman to do? Well? 7 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: My take is, well, this does not have anything to 8 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:34,479 Speaker 1: do with anybody being a grandma or a granddad. This 9 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 1: is just a classic old X story. And your take 10 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:39,880 Speaker 1: Rope initially. 11 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:43,239 Speaker 2: Was, uh, this is about respect. So when you have 12 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 2: a second wife and you have to have a relationship 13 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:48,840 Speaker 2: with your first wife because of your children or your grandchildren, whatever, 14 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 2: that is a lot of folks are familiar with this. 15 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 2: If the ex is flirty, as Brenda is saying, and 16 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 2: touchy feely, then yeah, it's a matter of respect. He 17 00:00:58,840 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 2: needs to have some boundary. 18 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 1: So yes, folks, welcome to this relationship edition of Amy 19 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: and TJ, where we go through the new column of 20 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 1: the week, that new column on Yahoo dot com and 21 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: the life section you can check it out, where we 22 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: give folks right into us asking questions about relationships and 23 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: not just about romantic relationships. It could be with a coworker, 24 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: with a friend, or with a relative of any kind. 25 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:22,919 Speaker 1: But we got a new one this week from Brenda 26 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: and Robe. This has been a They're interesting in the 27 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: back and forth and some of the details and the 28 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: ones and the questions we've been getting are a little different, 29 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 1: but they all really come down to a core principle 30 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 1: and it might just be respect and overwhelmingly the ones 31 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 1: we've been getting. 32 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's interesting because every problem, every question obviously is different, 33 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 2: coming from a different person, from a completely different problem, 34 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 2: and yet they all do seem to center. And then 35 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 2: I started thinking about conflict in general, and doesn't it 36 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 2: usually oftentimes revolve around boundaries and respect and not knowing 37 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 2: how to create either, sometimes times from either end. So 38 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 2: someone feels slided, someone feels like they're not getting what 39 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 2: they need, and that's a lot of the miscommunication. I 40 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 2: think that happens because people don't understand each other's needs, 41 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:14,799 Speaker 2: or at least they don't care to try and take 42 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 2: them into account. 43 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,359 Speaker 1: And we want to thank everybody who has written in. 44 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 1: I guess we're up to eight, nine, ten weeks of 45 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: this that we've been doing it so far, but I 46 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: mean it takes a lot to the only giving first 47 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 1: names usually not identify themselves fully, but it takes a 48 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: lot to write in and some of this stuff is 49 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: incredibly personal. Some of it's embarrassing, you could argue. But 50 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 1: nobody likes to feel like they're alone in their problem, 51 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: but you usually do because you look on Instagram and 52 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 1: everybody else's relationship is perfect, So why am I having problems? 53 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: But really, some of these folks, and some of the 54 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: answers as well, that the response is people have given 55 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 1: have been very thoughtful and open. 56 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:50,799 Speaker 2: Yes, exactly, And I think that's the whole reason why 57 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 2: we were excited about this, because life is messy and 58 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 2: we might not show it to everybody. But when you 59 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 2: have the opportunity, perhaps to even be anonymous, you can 60 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 2: kind of lean into your problems and recognize that, yes, 61 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,080 Speaker 2: we all have similar versions of them in our own 62 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 2: lives if we're honest with ourselves. So this week's question 63 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 2: comes to us from Brenda. How about we go ahead 64 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 2: and read it in its entirety. Brenda writes this Amy 65 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 2: and TJ. My husband has grandchildren from a previous marriage, 66 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 2: which isn't a problem. However, their grandmother. Betty, the ex wife, 67 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 2: is always around. I've told him I can tolerate her 68 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 2: being there for things like their grandkid's graduation, but not 69 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 2: every time we get invited somewhere. For example, last weekend, 70 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 2: we were at a birthday party for someone on his 71 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 2: side of the family, her ex in law. So she's 72 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 2: no longer a part of that family, right, okay, so 73 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 2: x in laws? Why is she there? And every time 74 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 2: they meet, Betty is hugging and kissing on my husband. 75 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 2: She just can't say hi and move along. I've asked 76 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 2: him over and over to set boundaries, but he acts 77 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 2: like he doesn't know what that means. I told him 78 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 2: I am not comfortable going to our next event if 79 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 2: she'll be there, and he said, Okay, I'm going anyway. Really, 80 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 2: what do I do? Brenda? 81 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: Your first question is? My first question is how long 82 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: have you all been together? And how long was the 83 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: first relationship? I just read again. This has been so 84 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 1: interesting to go back and read this and follow along 85 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 1: and read it this way. Now I'm thinking about it 86 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 1: a lot differently, But that's my first question. How long 87 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 1: have you two been married? And then how long was 88 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 1: he married to the other? Because it's possible they've got 89 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: a decade. We're talking about grandchildren. These are her grandchildren. 90 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 2: That's fine, and I think that's fine obviously if she 91 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 2: wants to be around the grandchildren. But I don't think 92 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 2: it should matter how long they were married the X 93 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 2: and him versus how long she is with her new husband. 94 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 2: They are now the current relationship. It should be the 95 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 2: most important relationship, and that should actually everything should trickle 96 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,359 Speaker 2: down from there. So I don't care what history you have. 97 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 2: She's not asking him to be disrespectful, rude, or not 98 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 2: pay attention. She's just saying, hey, can she not always 99 00:04:58,160 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 2: be there? And when she's there, can you at least 100 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 2: asked her not to touch, hug and kiss you. 101 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:05,599 Speaker 1: Let's take about the first problem that you don't want 102 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 1: her there in the first does she have to always 103 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: be there? So this is where my first question comes 104 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 1: into play. If this woman, these kids, she's been in 105 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: this family. We are possibly talking about twenty thirty forty 106 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:22,919 Speaker 1: plus years that she has been a part of this 107 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,359 Speaker 1: family unit. Now you're talking about grandkids. We don't know 108 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,839 Speaker 1: the ages, but we can assume they're fairly young, some 109 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 1: formative years that grandma wants to be around for in 110 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 1: every family event, every graduation, every dance, every birthday. Now 111 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: for the family, it feels like something's missing. Oh, the 112 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 1: lady who's been here for the past twenty years, grandma, 113 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: So I'm saying, so I asked that she might for 114 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 1: the rest of the family be family. We don't know 115 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: anything else. And that's where I started with how long 116 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:58,359 Speaker 1: because she should be around I think almost for everything 117 00:05:58,400 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: of those are her grandkids. 118 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't issue at all with the fact that 119 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:05,159 Speaker 2: ex wife slash grandma wants to be at the family 120 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 2: functions and it seems as though is invited to the 121 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:11,239 Speaker 2: family functions and guess what new wife wife number two again, 122 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 2: don't know how long you've been there. You don't get 123 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 2: to decide who comes to other people's parties. So I 124 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 2: do believe that, Sorry Brenda, but you don't get a 125 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 2: say and whether or not she's there. You don't get 126 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 2: to say whether or not she shows up because that's 127 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 2: someone else's party, that someone else's graduation, that someone else's celebration, 128 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 2: and if they want to invite the X she gets 129 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 2: to be there. Now, where I do think Brenda gets 130 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 2: to have the say in it is how she her 131 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,919 Speaker 2: husband interacts with his ex wife. I do think she 132 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 2: does get a Saymas, we are. 133 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: Not going to have any issues there. There is nothing 134 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 1: to talk about there. I was trying to take it 135 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: before we even got to the explosive car. I was 136 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: trying to take it piecemeal. Let's take out the inappropriate 137 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 1: hugging and touching and kissing or whatever. It would be 138 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: annoying to have her always around, But can you see 139 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 1: that possibly understandable that she would. 140 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:03,480 Speaker 2: Be Yeah, and I agree it can be annoying, but unfortunately, 141 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 2: having been a second wife at least one time around, 142 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 2: now that comes with the territory. When you enter into 143 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 2: a relationship, and certainly a marriage with somebody who has 144 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 2: had a previous family, that comes with him and you 145 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 2: just have to accept it. And yes, I know, accepting 146 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 2: kids and grandkids is one thing. Accepting an X is 147 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 2: a lot harder, and that has to be really difficult. 148 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 2: I feel for Brenda that's uncomfortable, that's it feels maybe 149 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 2: even alienating. But that's where you just have to suck 150 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 2: it up. I do believe you just have to say, 151 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 2: this is the man I chose to marry, this is 152 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 2: the relationship I chose to enter in, and it comes 153 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 2: with a history, and it comes with, for lack of 154 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 2: a better term, baggage, and that is something I've accepted 155 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 2: by marrying him, Okay. 156 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: And I'm not we are absolutely going to get to 157 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 1: the inappropriate, the hugging and the kissing and being too 158 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 1: close wrapping up though this idea just to her presence, 159 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 1: what do you do here? I don't know what to do. 160 00:07:56,720 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: How disrespectful and hurtful this can be. If she told 161 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: him how uncomfortable she is that she does not want 162 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: to go to the next event if the ex is 163 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: going to be there, his response being well, I'm going anyway. 164 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: There's got to be more to that conversation, because that's 165 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: obviously the wrong thing to say. 166 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 2: Clearly, we don't know how she said it to him, 167 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 2: so oftentimes we I mean, anyone who's been in a 168 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 2: relationship knows. So I'm the one who's upset. I kind 169 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 2: of draw an ultimatum if she doesn't stop acting like that, 170 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 2: I don't want to be at the next party, and 171 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 2: I don't want us to go if she's going to 172 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 2: be there, and he kind of gets annoyed that she's 173 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 2: drawing an ultimatum, and so he says, I'm going anyway. 174 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 2: You can see how that may have happened or escalated 175 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:39,680 Speaker 2: to that point. 176 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, So so to that part of the conversation. Look, 177 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 1: the first part about her being around all the time, Yes, 178 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: that's some stuff you just got to deal with. This 179 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 1: next part about you've got to have a more respectful 180 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:55,680 Speaker 1: conversation than that. It can't be. I don't want you 181 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: to go, well, I'm going anyway, end of story and 182 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: end of relationship. You just you can't resolve anything no 183 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 1: matter what you're talking about it. If you want to 184 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: watch her tonight, I want to watch comedy, Okay, you 185 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: go to that room. I goes that's not resolution of 186 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 1: any kind. So you can't do that. This next part though, 187 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 1: about the touchy feely, that doesn't necessarily make sense to me, sweetheart, 188 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 1: because there's no one who would accept that in any relationship. 189 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 2: Period. 190 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 1: They just won't. So I don't I don't know why 191 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: that's a debate of any kind, is she? I almost 192 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 1: feel and I'm not knocking you here, Brenda for this 193 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 1: for writing in it. Almost that's gotta be. It sounds 194 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 1: so nuts as I feel like it's a misrepresentation, like 195 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: maybe it's not that bad. So I'm trying to take 196 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: Brenda at her word because I just don't understand how 197 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 1: anybody would do this in front of their spouse be 198 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 1: lovey dovey with an X. 199 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 2: Well, maybe he's not being lovey dovey, but he's not 200 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:57,439 Speaker 2: stopping her from being lovey dovey. And I can look 201 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 2: at it from a female perspective, and I could see 202 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 2: a scenario in which Brenda's husband's ex her name is Betty, 203 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 2: So I can see a scenario in which Betty feels 204 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:12,079 Speaker 2: her power. Betty knows she's pissing off Brenda. Betty knows 205 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 2: it's upsetting Brenda. And how many first wives like the 206 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 2: second wives and vice versa. That's a very difficult. I 207 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 2: wouldn't want to call it a relationship situationship because it 208 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 2: only happens when the two have to be in the 209 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 2: same room together. So there is a bit of a 210 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 2: power struggle that sometimes happens between the former and the 211 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 2: current wife. And so I wouldn't put it past Betty, 212 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 2: and I don't know her to lean into that because 213 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 2: she knows, she knows she's getting under Brenda's skin and 214 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 2: it's a power play, and the problem is the husband 215 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 2: isn't stopping it. The husband isn't saying Betty, you can't 216 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,119 Speaker 2: keep coming up to me like this. Obviously it's not appropriate. 217 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 2: Can you please just keep our contact. We can be 218 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 2: as friendly and as cordial as we possibly can, but please, 219 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 2: please please, let's let's not hug and kiss upsetting my wife. 220 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 1: So now you've gotten to the dude part of it, 221 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: I can understand, because the first part of that I 222 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 1: didn't because it's not where a guy's head would ever be. 223 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:09,839 Speaker 1: I would this whole thing we've been I don't know. 224 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: This question came to us and we answered this weeks 225 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 1: ago for the column. It's never crossed my mind, this 226 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 1: idea that women would be in some kind of powerful well. 227 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 2: That's hilarious. It just doesn't first thing that pops in. 228 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: You're right, and it makes sense now as you've said it. 229 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:24,680 Speaker 1: But my mind doesn't go there, and guy's minds maybe 230 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 1: don't necessarily go there. But when you said that, okay, 231 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 1: that so that's a whole new dynamic women within it. 232 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:35,080 Speaker 2: Two minutes, it might even be ninety seconds if meeting 233 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 2: one another kind of know if they're going to like 234 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:39,440 Speaker 2: each other or not. I don't know what it is. 235 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 2: It's this energy read that sometimes happened, and it doesn't 236 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 2: happen between all women, but certainly women who are in 237 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:46,960 Speaker 2: adversarial roles. And I would argue that a first wife 238 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 2: and a second wife are just almost in a way, 239 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:53,319 Speaker 2: in a competitive role. Not everybody, so I can get 240 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 2: along very well. 241 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: But by its very nature. 242 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 2: Ye yes, just like from a like, just not even 243 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 2: taking from a personal or specific point, just generally speaking, 244 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:08,440 Speaker 2: that could potentially be a powder keg an adversarial relationship. 245 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:11,720 Speaker 2: So then you add to it someone putting a little 246 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 2: power play to it. That that is deliberate, that is 247 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 2: not accidental, that is not whoopsie. 248 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: So all right, you're saying this is what Betty's doing. 249 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:22,560 Speaker 2: I think this is, but Brenda is taking the bait. 250 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: Oh go, go all we don't know Betty. 251 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:26,640 Speaker 2: And husband needs to step up. 252 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: Okay. So here's the thing I told you. That was 253 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 1: the part I absolutely couldn't relate to when you started 254 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:33,560 Speaker 1: talking about that, But then you got to the dude 255 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:35,560 Speaker 1: part of it. So now let me tell you the 256 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 1: part of this all guys absolutely can relate to. 257 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 2: Welcome back to this edition of Amy and TJ. It's 258 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 2: the Ask Amy and TJ edition of our podcast where 259 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:58,240 Speaker 2: we are going over our latest column in Yahoo on 260 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 2: the Life section. This question, relationship question, came to us 261 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 2: from Brenda. She is not happy about her husband's ex wife, 262 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:10,200 Speaker 2: the first wife, how she acts around her husband. And 263 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 2: apparently the ex wife, whose name is Betty, is around 264 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 2: all the time. See, they share grandkids together, and there 265 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 2: are lots of moments where the families all come together, 266 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:24,560 Speaker 2: and Brenda isn't having how Betty is acting around her husband, 267 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 2: and her husband seems to be doing nothing about it 268 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 2: at all. 269 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:31,360 Speaker 1: And let's not put words in Brenda's mouth here. Where 270 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: is it about the hugging and kissing Here? Every time 271 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: they meet, Betty is hugging and kissing on my husband. 272 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 1: She can't just say hi and move along. That's the 273 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 1: only description we've got of the behavior is she is 274 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:48,560 Speaker 1: hugging and kissing on my husband. Now, the part I 275 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:52,440 Speaker 1: didn't understand you said, immediately when you saw this scenario, 276 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: you thought this was women going at it, and maybe 277 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:58,439 Speaker 1: that's something that women listening to this immediately recognized that. 278 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 1: Me as a guy, I did until you said, look. 279 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 2: I'd love it if it weren't true. And I am 280 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:05,439 Speaker 2: certainly taking or making some assumptions here, but my thought 281 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 2: is that, yes, first wife just putting a little power 282 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 2: play on second wife, and it wouldn't be surprising to 283 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 2: me if she was doing it deliberately because she can see. 284 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:17,319 Speaker 2: And by the way, you can tell if someone is 285 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 2: irritated or annoyed or you're pissing them off. And so 286 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 2: I think that possibly Betty might be getting a little 287 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 2: enjoyment out of upsetting Brenda. 288 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 1: Okay, so you said that once you said, I'm like, okay, yes, 289 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 1: that makes perfect sense, but my mind didn't go there. However, 290 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 1: I have been struggling robes to understand why this guy. 291 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: This is very simple to shut this down, like, it's 292 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: very easy. This is the woman you want to be with. 293 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 1: Now you've committed to her. You all are married. There's 294 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:47,160 Speaker 1: nothing else there is. I don't you know what. Of all, 295 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: there's not a woman in the world that should be 296 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 1: hugging and kissing on him in front of his wife. 297 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 2: Not one, you know what. I so agree with you. 298 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 2: Maybe his mother or his sister, Okay, and that's it. 299 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 1: But of all women in the world, the last one 300 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 1: to be doing it should be his ex wife in 301 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 1: front of his current wife. So I am confused as 302 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 1: to why that's possible. And then you put that scenario 303 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 1: in my head, and I'm like, Oh, he's loving the attention. 304 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 2: And that's what I think. I think this is loveing Meg. 305 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 2: Who doesn't slightly in the back of their mind, doesn't 306 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 2: want to admit it, but doesn't who doesn't like being 307 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 2: fought over? You're so valuable. You've got two women who 308 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 2: are clearly fighting for you or over you, and maybe 309 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 2: in some way that feels kind of good. 310 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 1: Okay, I know I want to give him the benefit 311 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: of the doubt, but I cannot make any sense out 312 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: of why he would allow and this to go on. 313 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: You you don't have to even put your ex wife 314 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 1: in check. This is just a matter of no, You're 315 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: not going to participate in anything like that in front 316 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: of your wife. I don't understand it. And then you 317 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: put that scenario, So maybe that is the best thing 318 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:58,720 Speaker 1: I can come up with to explain why he would 319 00:15:58,800 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 1: let this go on. 320 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 2: Well, part of my advice to Brenda was to put 321 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 2: it to him like this, can you reverse the roles? 322 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 2: Can you imagine if a man who I had slept with, 323 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 2: had children with, share grandchildren with, is now coming up 324 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 2: in front of you and kissing me and hugging me 325 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 2: and being touchy feely and not just saying hi and by, 326 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 2: but lingering and flirting, how would you feel like? Just 327 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 2: put yourself in that position and imagine how that would 328 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 2: make you feel as a partner. 329 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, and the answer is pretty simple. So this one 330 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:35,840 Speaker 1: seemed very simple. Obviously, their details or whatnot we cannot 331 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 1: We will never know. But this is a simple matter 332 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 1: we go through about respect, and we have all learned lessons. 333 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: We've all been disrespected in relationships. We've all inadvertently sometimes 334 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 1: and some people just do it blatantly with disrespect and relationships. 335 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 1: But that is so so key. And here's another example, 336 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 1: and again that it's common ropes. Like I said, we 337 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: all deal with this thing about respect. The scenarios have 338 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 1: to do with it, even if some of the details. 339 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:05,920 Speaker 2: Change exactly, it comes down to the same theme. What 340 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,120 Speaker 2: would you What did you tell Betty to do? What 341 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:12,159 Speaker 2: should she do? I think that she should say something. 342 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:14,479 Speaker 2: The worst thing she could do is say nothing and 343 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 2: just have this resentment. I know she's already said something, 344 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 2: and she's already kind of drawn an ultimatum. But I 345 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 2: think she needs to actually explain to her husband how 346 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 2: she feels, ask him to reverse the rules and ask 347 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:28,280 Speaker 2: him how he would feel, and get him to understand 348 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:32,119 Speaker 2: how devastating it feels to her, and how scary it 349 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:34,679 Speaker 2: feels to her, and how threatening it feels to her. 350 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 2: I know it's hard sometimes too. Instead of just we 351 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 2: all want to point the fingers that you did this, 352 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 2: and you didn't do this, and you should do this. 353 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 2: But instead instead of saying, you start with I. I know, 354 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 2: I well, that sounds very like something you've learned in therapy, 355 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 2: but it certainly is. If you say, I am feeling 356 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:52,240 Speaker 2: really vulnerable, I'm feeling really threatened, and when you allow 357 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:55,359 Speaker 2: this to happen, it scares me. I feel like somehow 358 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:58,560 Speaker 2: our relationship is threatened. Please, please, please, can you help 359 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:01,400 Speaker 2: me by doing this and say it in a sweet way, 360 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:04,360 Speaker 2: in a loving way, And because I want a relationship 361 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:07,080 Speaker 2: to continue to grow and flourish, this is this is 362 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:09,399 Speaker 2: really causing a major problem for me. 363 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,200 Speaker 1: But you can imagine there's probably some insecurity in that 364 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 1: he was with this woman, and we could only get 365 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 1: we're talking about grandkids, somebody he was with twenty thirty 366 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 1: plus years in all likelihood, how long has he been 367 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 1: married to this woman? Now? Probably not that long, if 368 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:27,200 Speaker 1: you could argue she probably does still feel some competition 369 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: or this is so yeah, he has all now she 370 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 1: has the witness all this he established in a family. 371 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:34,680 Speaker 2: And you know what's happening in front of everyone too, 372 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 2: which I think adds to it. It adds to that 373 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 2: feeling of yeah, of vulnerability that somehow everyone else has 374 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 2: this long standing history together and you're the odd man out, 375 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:46,200 Speaker 2: and so I just I would hope that he could 376 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:49,119 Speaker 2: be sensitive to what that feels like going into another 377 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:51,720 Speaker 2: family that has roots that you don't have. 378 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:53,640 Speaker 1: You know what that is? You know, that's a good 379 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: lesson to everybody. Look, you and I. Look, there's a 380 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 1: reason people come up to us on the street and 381 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 1: people write to us here. No matter what people think 382 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 1: about our relationship and how it started, it's something we 383 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: are proud of, despite the lie that's been told about 384 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:11,200 Speaker 1: our relationship and how it started. But so many people 385 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:14,480 Speaker 1: walk up to us and are constantly having a conversation 386 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:18,399 Speaker 1: about what should I do? I went through this, it 387 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 1: becomes a safe place, and this woman as well, and 388 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:25,720 Speaker 1: asking this question. We have all dealt with and you 389 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:28,800 Speaker 1: and I have dealt with me bringing you into an 390 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 1: environment or you bringing me into an environment where you 391 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,159 Speaker 1: always feel kind of on edge, like you're being pulled 392 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:37,400 Speaker 1: in this direction. I've got to make sure my new 393 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:39,360 Speaker 1: person's happy, or I got to make sure my family's happy. 394 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:42,119 Speaker 1: I got to make sure everybody's getting along. That's tough, 395 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 1: what they've laid out here with grand children, all this 396 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: stuff and all this scenario is something a bunch of 397 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:50,879 Speaker 1: us deal with. Yeah, you're trying to balance. I mean, 398 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 1: I deal with this with you and Sabine. Sometimes not 399 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 1: the case anymore. I want to make sure I'm giving 400 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: the right amount of attention to you and to her, 401 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: and that we're all getting enough attention together. These things, 402 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 1: it's just there. And this sounds like one of those 403 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: scenarios on a bunch grander scale. Yeah, and that's uncomfortable. 404 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 1: It's awkward, and it takes like trust and time and 405 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:14,880 Speaker 1: sometimes years to get to a comfortable spot. 406 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:17,640 Speaker 2: I think that's so well said, babe, and it's something 407 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:19,359 Speaker 2: that so many people deal with. And I think at 408 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 2: the end of the day, if you have chosen this 409 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 2: person to spend your life with, you have to put 410 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:25,840 Speaker 2: them first. And it doesn't mean you have to be 411 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:28,119 Speaker 2: disrespectful to anyone else who's important in your life, but 412 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 2: you have to put that relationship first and understand and 413 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:35,200 Speaker 2: respect each other's needs and but you have to communicate 414 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 2: them effectively and not emotionally. And that's really hard to 415 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 2: do sometimes. 416 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:42,119 Speaker 1: And that's a balance, right, he should be respecting maybe 417 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:45,919 Speaker 1: his marriage more. She maybe should be respecting his history, 418 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 1: his family has passed a little more. There's a balance there. 419 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 1: These two could be okay, But that's a tough one. 420 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: We've all I didn't think again, this stuff hits me 421 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 1: once we start doing this, even though we've thought about 422 00:20:57,160 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 1: this scenario before, but it hits me here and never 423 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:04,639 Speaker 1: really put us in, all of us in that scenario. Interesting. 424 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:07,440 Speaker 2: Well, we want to thank Brenda for writing in and 425 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 2: we want to actually encourage any of you listening to this. 426 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,639 Speaker 2: Please please please go look at the column, read all 427 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 2: through it, and then leave a comment because we'll follow 428 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 2: up later this week. We'll go through all of your comments. 429 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 2: You all have amazing advice and sometimes it has some 430 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 2: very funny anecdotal just experiences that relate to this, We 431 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 2: appreciate it. It just it's nice to have everyone talking, communicating, 432 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,639 Speaker 2: understanding each other and maybe learning something in the process. 433 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 1: And don't be mean. We appreciate you being open and honest. 434 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:37,040 Speaker 1: Some people have been very open, yes, and admitting some 435 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: things in our own past to relate, so we appreciate that. 436 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:41,359 Speaker 1: Don't be means of these folks. We're all trying to 437 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 1: give everybody, the husband, the wife, and the ex wife. 438 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: Everybody has the benefit of the that. 439 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:47,040 Speaker 2: I'm going to believe everyone who listens to this podcast 440 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 2: is not one of the mean ones. They're one of 441 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 2: the good ones. 442 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:52,360 Speaker 1: Right, And please feel free to leave your We'll give 443 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 1: you credit with your name and a locator if you 444 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:56,400 Speaker 1: can tell us where you are, it would be nice 445 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: to know where in the country you are you write. 446 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:00,199 Speaker 2: It all right, Well, thank you all for listening to 447 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:03,199 Speaker 2: us today. We hope you have a wonderful Monday and 448 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:05,120 Speaker 2: rest of your week, and we'll see us soon.