1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,360 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Sam, this is John, and we are 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: the founding hosts of Okay Storytime podcast. 3 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 2: And we have some foundational stories coming up for you. 4 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:11,000 Speaker 1: But the thing is this foundation needs a little support 5 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: from these sponsors. So stick around two minutes and we'll 6 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: get into the episode. 7 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 3: My sister in law on invited me from her wedding 8 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 3: after I refuse to host her family. 9 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 2: Why did you refuse? Are they all mutants? Though? 10 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 3: I forty two female, have been asked to host part 11 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 3: of my brother's Brian thirty eight male fiance's family for 12 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 3: their upcoming wedding next weekend. We'll call the fiance Diane. 13 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 3: She's thirty nine female. They've been together almost five years. 14 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 3: By the way, this comes from Aggressive Bet eleven eighty eight. 15 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 3: And if you want to submit your own stories, go 16 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 3: to the r slash Okay Storytime Separated. 17 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 4: I'm Sophia, I'm Dakota, I'm Keon, and we're. 18 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 3: Here to give good advice. Goofy, but we don't have 19 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 3: all the answers. We only know what we'd do. Let 20 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 3: us know what you would do in the comments. And 21 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 3: OHP says, first of all, my brother isn't the sharpest 22 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 3: tool in the shit he has fallen for lie after 23 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 3: lie and still doesn't really see the lies and years 24 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 3: of her fake persona and manipulative behavior. For example, she 25 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 3: lied that she couldn't get pregnant in the beginning, literally 26 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 3: said her uterus had been removed. Then why are you 27 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,040 Speaker 3: having a period, sega? They now have four year old 28 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 3: and a two year old. Still these were miracle pregnancies. 29 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 3: I think that goes beyond like just like naive or sharpest, 30 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 3: not the sharpest tool in the shed. If you think 31 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 3: that you can have a miracle pregnancy without a uterus, 32 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 3: you gotta go back to I. 33 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 4: Think I think your brother needs a real eyes. 34 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 3: She told him they were a topic tube pregnancies. 35 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 2: What what? 36 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 3: Apparently my bro cannot use Google, nor does he believe 37 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 3: countless family and friends who told him this was impossible 38 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:46,960 Speaker 3: to give birth from an a topic pregnancy. 39 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 2: You know what? He does the du though he believes women, 40 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 2: He believes like I gotta believe my wife told me so. 41 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 3: He works a lot and never was able to get 42 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 3: an ob appointment, and even if you did, he likely 43 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 3: wouldn't have asked the doc. In the end, he said 44 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 3: he loves her and it doesn't matter. Okay, dude, fine, 45 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 3: We'll be happy for you and our new nephews. Needless 46 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 3: to say, I am and much of our family not 47 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 3: fond of Diane. She is a user of the highest order, 48 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:18,079 Speaker 3: disposing people like Kleenex once their usefulness has expired. I've 49 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 3: watched her manipulate my parents, my bro my sister, her 50 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 3: own friends and family. It's just been gross when I've 51 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 3: had to deal with her at family holiday events, weddings, funerals, 52 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 3: just ew. Now they're finally getting married next weekend. They've 53 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 3: been planning this for about six months, as she's a 54 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 3: huge Halloween fanatic, but doesn't want to share her anniversary 55 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 3: with Halloween days on a huge event about fifty people, 56 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 3: mostly our family and some of hers. Her brother, his wife, 57 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 3: and four kids cannot afford a hotel. This is something 58 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 3: Diana has known about for months, but just asked me 59 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 3: last night if they could stay with us since I 60 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 3: have the biggest house. This is an unreasonable and undesirable 61 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 3: sit situation for me for a multitude of reasons. I 62 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 3: live almost three hours away from the venue and the town. 63 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 3: They will be hosting events such as a final dress 64 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 3: fitting rehearsal, dinner, bachelor and bachelorette parties. That will be 65 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 3: a lot of back and forth for them, especially since 66 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:18,519 Speaker 3: my kids and I plus my plus one are only 67 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 3: invited to the wedding and reception. They couldn't even carpool 68 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 3: with us because we aren't attending those events. Kids under 69 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 3: thirteen are not invited to the wedding or reception. Assuming 70 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 3: all the adults and my teens will be at the wedding, 71 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 3: who's going to watch their kids one, four, or five 72 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 3: and nine? And where will they go during the festivities? 73 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 3: My kids are attending their uncle's wedding. We're going to 74 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 3: support my brother and see our other family members. So 75 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 3: if the plan is to see if I are one 76 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 3: of my kiddos seventeen, sixteen, and fifteen will do it? 77 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 3: The answer is no. I have met these people once 78 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 3: in passing. I know nothing about them at all, and 79 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 3: if they're anything like their sister, well I don't want to. 80 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 3: Aside from that, there's the whole trusting strangers in my 81 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 3: home with my kids as well. Nope, Why exactly can't 82 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 3: they stay with Diane's parents. They have a three bedroom 83 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 3: home and live alone. Why can't they host their son 84 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 3: and grandchildren? Answer, he and his dad don't get along, 85 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 3: and since her dad is the only decent person in 86 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 3: her family that I've met and liked, that's a red 87 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,719 Speaker 3: flag for me. I told Diana my brother, that I 88 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 3: really am not comfortable with this, and the response was, 89 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 3: please his family. 90 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 5: Uh. 91 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 3: My boyfriend weird to say boyfriend at my age, said 92 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 3: he would stay with us all weekend if I was 93 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 3: uncomfortable having them there alone, and would help out since 94 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 3: I was also expected to properly host, which means cooking 95 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 3: for everyone. That's great and would help with the uncomfortable 96 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 3: part for sure, But even still, aside from the trust 97 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 3: issues I have, I am primarily worried about where their 98 00:04:56,400 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 3: kids will be during everything. The response was we're still 99 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,839 Speaker 3: figuring that out. After that, I double down on the 100 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 3: new since I have visions of them saying, the nine 101 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 3: year old could babysit one, four and five year olds 102 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 3: at my house. 103 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:13,599 Speaker 2: The nine year old. 104 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, nine year old's could babysit three kids. No, My 105 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 3: family is fifty to fifty on me being an a 106 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:22,599 Speaker 3: whole about it, and Diane's family except her parents, also 107 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 3: think I'm being an a hole since it's just one 108 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 3: weekend and I usually host all the holidays and such. 109 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 3: They say I'm being a snob about it and I'm 110 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 3: out of touch because I cannot appreciate their financial struggles. 111 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 3: Up until a decade ago, I was exactly in their 112 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 3: shoes monetarily. I don't care that they don't have bezos money. 113 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:45,159 Speaker 3: I care that they're strangers. Someone in my house will 114 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 3: likely be expected to babysit and miss the ceremony, or 115 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 3: be expected to babysit all weekend while their parents are 116 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:54,599 Speaker 3: out partying, and the fact that there is family tension 117 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 3: between them and their parents is giving me anxiety about 118 00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 3: what I could expect from my potential guests. Am I 119 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:04,039 Speaker 3: being an a hole? And there is an update? But 120 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 3: now that's your house, you're not gonna be there. 121 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 2: I think that's pretty reasonable to be like. I'd like 122 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 2: to at least meet them before I host them in 123 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 2: my house for a whole weekend. And I'm also not 124 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 2: there the whole time. 125 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 3: And I can't babysit their kids for them. Sorry. Yeah, 126 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 3: you're gonna have to figure it out, y'all, or not 127 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 3: go because you can't afford it. And if you can't 128 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:30,159 Speaker 3: afford it and you can't find any accommodations, then that's it. 129 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 2: There's also that part update. 130 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 3: I have been getting bombarded with calls and texts from 131 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 3: Diane and my brother, which I ignored until about an 132 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 3: hour ago. I calmly asked, what's up. When I answered, 133 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 3: I could hear the panic in her voice as she 134 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 3: rushed to berate me for being so cruel while she 135 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 3: had so much else to deal with. Lady, I work 136 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 3: full time, travel for work, have two kids playing high 137 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 3: school football, have two kids who have part time jobs, 138 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,839 Speaker 3: and I'm a single mom. You don't exactly have an 139 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 3: easy schedule and free time myself. She went on to 140 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 3: say that she had been so sure that I would 141 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 3: be willing to help read babysit her family that no 142 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 3: one else wants around. It seems that you already promised 143 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:15,559 Speaker 3: them that they could stand the pool house. Let's be clear. 144 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 3: The poolhouse has a bathroom, a large living area, and 145 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 3: a tiny kitchen net. It's barely the size of a 146 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 3: primary bedroom, let alone big enough for six people, not 147 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 3: some extravagant space. I told her, Bari, not my problem. 148 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 2: Good fast. 149 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 3: First, I also have the kids, and I booked at 150 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 3: the XYZ hotel because I planned to drink at that wedding, 151 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 3: and I'm not driving home after that. How did you 152 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 3: plan to get them to my house anyway? Are they 153 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 3: renting a car? Who's babysitting? Why can't your parents take 154 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 3: the kids? If the issue is with your brother, why 155 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 3: would he bring them if he couldn't afford it? Anyway? 156 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 3: This is some seriously poor planning. I fired those questions 157 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 3: off that are like bullets out of a pew pew. 158 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 3: She said this was dumped on her and she was stuck. 159 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 3: I said, so you thought I was the best choice 160 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 3: to dump this on, to take it off your plate. 161 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 3: We aren't exactly close, Diane. Please stop asking me. I'm 162 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 3: not gonna do this for you. My answer is final. Sorry, 163 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 3: not sorry. 164 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, Diane, you nice jump on my plate. 165 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 3: Diane, Diane, get your get your butt out of here. 166 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 3: It's go dump it somewhere else. 167 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 2: Get your butt out of here. Step dumping on me. 168 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 4: Also, don't promise your kids something unless if it's one 169 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 4: hundred and fifty percent true. 170 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, because don't get your kids whining to me about 171 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 3: oh my mom's dead. I don't care. 172 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, your mom's a liar. She's a liar. 173 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 3: She's could not be a liar. 174 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 4: And I guarantee you Diane's gonna blame op Like mmm, 175 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:44,680 Speaker 4: she she said, you couldn't do it. I promise you kids, 176 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 4: you're gonna have a good time. And she said she 177 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:49,719 Speaker 4: wasn't gonna do it. I'm sorry, kidos, she sucks. Make 178 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 4: sure every time you see her. 179 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,199 Speaker 3: You say, hey, you suck. We're uninvited at the wedding. 180 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 3: I don't believe my brother would allow that. But if 181 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:57,959 Speaker 3: it comes to pass that we don't get to go, 182 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 3: good riddance. Update two, So my soon to be sister 183 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 3: in law called me and invited us back to the 184 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 3: wedding today. Wedding is Saturday. And she said, Okay, I 185 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 3: know I told her that you couldn't come to the wedding, 186 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 3: but I have to take it back because my brother 187 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 3: said that you have to come or whatever. So you're 188 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 3: invited again. 189 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 2: You should be like, are you sure? 190 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 3: Yeah? I don't think I really want to anymore. I 191 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:26,839 Speaker 3: think I'm gonna stick with the first part where you 192 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 3: said I'm. 193 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:28,959 Speaker 2: Not invited because you didn't invite me. You want to 194 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 2: invite me? Are you sure? 195 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 3: I could tell it was a very forced action on 196 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 3: her part, not renounce some sincerity in her apology, nor 197 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 3: any mention that she was in the wrong, save for 198 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 3: over reacting in the heat of the moment. I had 199 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 3: already spoken to my kiddos about what they wanted to 200 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 3: do and their thoughts on it if they were to 201 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 3: reinvite us, and they were of the same mindset as 202 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 3: me f that, so we made other plans for the weekend. 203 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,479 Speaker 3: I passed this along tour, and she had the audacity 204 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 3: to say, Oh, well, then you guys can babysit right. 205 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 4: No, we're back to square one dining. 206 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 3: No, No, you can't doing this, naquaited. I literally laughed 207 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 3: and told her to f off. She started crying and 208 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 3: saying that I never gave her a chance. I've always 209 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 3: been so mean to her, and she doesn't know what 210 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 3: she's ever done to me, blah blah blah. I not 211 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 3: so gently acknowledged that I never gave her the opportunity 212 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 3: to pull the wool over my eyes because I'm smarter 213 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 3: than her. But I have watched her quietly manipulate almost 214 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:35,319 Speaker 3: everyone in my family in somewhere another. 215 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, you just got to keep telling people 216 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,439 Speaker 2: like this, no, gotta keep telling them no. 217 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 3: Just keep saying Nope, nope, nope. 218 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:45,439 Speaker 2: You're gonna do it again in the future, and you 219 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 2: know what you're say in the future, Nope, nope. 220 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 4: All you have to do is just send him the 221 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 4: movie link to Nope. Yeah, I am dB to Nope, nope. 222 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:55,679 Speaker 3: But it's like just an edited version of every time 223 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 3: they say. 224 00:10:56,040 --> 00:11:00,199 Speaker 2: Nope, yep, nope, nope, nope, nope, yep, nope, send them Nope. 225 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 3: My brother is angry with her because we're not coming, 226 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 3: and it was her responsibility to make it right and 227 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,200 Speaker 3: she completely blew it. To be fair, my bro hasn't 228 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 3: communicated to me once personally about the incident, and that 229 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:14,839 Speaker 3: kind of pisses me off too, like you couldn't tell 230 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 3: me you don't feel the same and you would like 231 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 3: us to come. I've got my dad saying, of course 232 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 3: she wants you guys there. He's so pissed at Diane. 233 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 3: Mm hmmm, pops. So that's all, folks. We'll be spending 234 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 3: our weekend at the Michigan versus Michigan State football game 235 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 3: and tailgating with the best fans in the state. Hashtag hail, 236 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 3: hashtag go Blue, heybe, And that's the story. 237 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 4: They're not having a really good season this year. 238 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 2: I'm sorry football. 239 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 3: Deef nuts. 240 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 2: That's the big game though, And that's the end of 241 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 2: this story. We're gonna go on to the next one. 242 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:53,439 Speaker 2: My mother in law said I'm stealing her grandchild because 243 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 2: I demanded boundaries. 244 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 3: He was mine in the first place. 245 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 2: I thirty female. I'm currently twenty eight weeks pregnant the 246 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 2: baby girl do at the end of January. My husband, 247 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 2: thirty seven, Mail and I have been married for two 248 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 2: years now, but we've been together for eight years and 249 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 2: this will be our first child. By the way, this 250 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 2: comes from user Princess Poco, and if you want to 251 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 2: submit your own stories, go to the our Slashowcay Storytime 252 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 2: summerd It. I'm Dakota, I'm Sophia, I'm Keon, and we 253 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 2: are He had to give you good advice, goofily, but 254 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 2: we don't have all the answers, so let us know 255 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:27,319 Speaker 2: what you would do in the comments. Nope, he says. 256 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:30,680 Speaker 2: I've always had a very relaxed relationship with my in 257 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 2: laws until recently when we told them I was pregnant. 258 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:37,960 Speaker 2: They were excited, as expected, but getting increasingly pushy regarding 259 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 2: planning the baby shower and asking personal questions that I'm 260 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:43,960 Speaker 2: not comfortable with discussing with them for contact. My in 261 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 2: laws live about ten minutes from my husband and I. 262 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 2: They've been charged with the care of our eighteen year 263 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 2: old nephew for the last nine months or so. My 264 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 2: husband's older sister is a bit of a mess. She 265 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 2: has joint custody of three boys, all with the same father. 266 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 2: Since the oldest turned eighteen. She had moved in with 267 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 2: her new boy friend, so there was no room for 268 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 2: him at their house, and his father is very much 269 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:07,439 Speaker 2: a you're eighteen now, son, You're on your own type 270 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 2: of guy, so he wasn't welcome at his father's house either, 271 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 2: even though his two brothers live with his father full time. 272 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 3: What a great guy, doesn't sound, do it. 273 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 2: My pregnancy has been challenging. I was diagnosed with HG. 274 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 2: You're early in my pregnancy. I'm working full time on 275 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:29,079 Speaker 2: several medications daily to prevent nausea and vomiting, and sometimes 276 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 2: vomit up to twelve times a day. 277 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 3: Oh that sounds awful. 278 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 2: Geez barf times twelve. I've needed multiple trips to urgent 279 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 2: care for IVS due to recurrent dehydration I'm also anemic 280 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 2: and tire easily just by doing daily tasks. Oh my god, 281 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 2: I nearly faint, vision, going black, feeling light headed, and 282 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 2: nauseous at least a few times a week. You can't 283 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:53,959 Speaker 2: get a break yep, but you can catch a faint. 284 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 2: But if I lay down fast enough, I'm able to 285 00:13:56,800 --> 00:14:00,960 Speaker 2: come to without totally losing consciousness. My husband works long hours, 286 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 2: so though still working full time and being exhausted following 287 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 2: each workday, I still do a majority of the housework. 288 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 2: I don't fault my husband for this at all, because 289 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 2: this has been his schedule our entire relationship, and he's 290 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 2: doing his best to financially support our family. I'm a therapist, 291 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 2: so though my job isn't physically taxing, it is definitely 292 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 2: emotionally taxing day to day. Outside of the HG. There 293 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 2: are days my boss sends me home early because she 294 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:29,280 Speaker 2: sees me struggling, and that's when I usually end up 295 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 2: going to urging care for an IV. I'm also followed 296 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 2: by MFM for some issues with her placenta that may 297 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 2: cause growth restrictions with the baby, so I have more 298 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 2: pre natal appointments that are also longer in duration than 299 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 2: the average first time mom. My in laws are complaining 300 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,400 Speaker 2: about how we aren't visiting with them enough or helping 301 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 2: with our nephew when I barely have the strength to 302 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 2: get through my work day and manage the household. I 303 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 2: tell my husband I have no problem with him visiting 304 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 2: with his nephew, but I don't feel well in to 305 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 2: accompany them. I don't enjoy meeting them out for dinner 306 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 2: because I'm running to the restroom or vomiting into an 307 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 2: Emesis bag, and it isn't exactly fun for me. I 308 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 2: keep Emesis bags on my person, in every purse and 309 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 2: both mine and my husband's car because of the frequency 310 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 2: of my vomiting. I'm being told I'm exiling my family 311 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 2: by not seeing them weekly. 312 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 3: They do not understand what you're going through. 313 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 2: Do they not understand barfing twelve times a day's of 314 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 2: any time job, on top of your full time job, 315 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 2: on top of taking care of the house. Yeah. 316 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 3: I think maybe you go to like one or two 317 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 3: of these events and just barf in front of them. 318 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, don't don't even hit the bag, nor barf on 319 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 2: the table. 320 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 3: Yeah. 321 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you go. I know I'll see myself out. Yeah, 322 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 2: I'm not exactly sure why they're so keen on having 323 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 2: me sit in their living room so they can watch 324 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 2: me fall asleep on the couch from exhaustion after work 325 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 2: or vomit after dinner. Some days certainly are better than other, 326 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 2: but I can't control that. My own mother in law 327 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 2: has a habit of being an attention seeker. She somehow 328 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 2: makes every event about her. She tried to wear the 329 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 2: exact same dress as my mother to our wedding and 330 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 2: then cried for weeks when my husband told her that 331 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 2: wasn't appropriate and to pick a different dress. She somehow 332 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 2: made her mother in law's ninety fifth birthday about her. 333 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 2: Now she's doing what she can to take over my 334 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 2: baby shower. I'm very particular and organized. I picked a venue, 335 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 2: put down a deposit, selected a plated menu for the 336 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 2: event with a starter in dessert, hired a company for 337 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 2: the photo backdrop and centerpieces, and ordered signs and invites 338 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 2: and thank you cards. All by the time I was 339 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 2: twenty weeks pregnant, before my in law's even thought about 340 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 2: starting to plan a shower. When my mother in law 341 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 2: starts asking about how she can help, I tell her 342 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 2: everything has already been booked. There's nothing left to help 343 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 2: with except the guest list. I get guilt tripped by 344 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 2: my father in law for not letting my mother in 345 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 2: law plan the event. I didn't even realize that was 346 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 2: even something people do. I'm having a party to celebrate 347 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 2: the birth of my child. Why would it be anyone's 348 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:06,600 Speaker 2: responsibility but my own to plan a party. I asked 349 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:08,119 Speaker 2: my mother in law for a list of people to 350 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:10,920 Speaker 2: invite to the shower, and the list just kept growing. 351 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:15,399 Speaker 3: Honestly, yeah, maybe we don't even ask her. Obviously this 352 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 3: is in hindsight, but like if the person who has 353 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:22,400 Speaker 3: been really difficult, you know, maybe don't need to even 354 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:23,120 Speaker 3: involve them. 355 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:25,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, we say, oh, I appreciate the thought. I appreciate 356 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:26,639 Speaker 2: you wanting to do this. 357 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 3: Got it all handled than you do it though. 358 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:29,680 Speaker 2: Nothing to be done. 359 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:30,440 Speaker 3: All good. 360 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,639 Speaker 2: She sent me several texts of more people to invite. 361 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 2: Most I've never met before the nine years I've known 362 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:40,639 Speaker 2: my husband, nor did they even attend our wedding, but 363 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 2: I invited them to make her happy. I frequently get 364 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 2: panic texts from her to know about who is oursvp'd 365 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 2: and who hasn't answered. I have to update her every 366 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:52,240 Speaker 2: time someone says no, even if they're my friend from 367 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 2: childhood that she's never met. I'm not sure why anything 368 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:58,120 Speaker 2: that has to do with the shower concerns her at all. 369 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:00,399 Speaker 2: She just needs to put on a dress, show up, 370 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 2: and enjoy the party. Why is that so hard? My 371 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:05,919 Speaker 2: in laws are now insisting on paying for half of it, 372 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 2: which I expect given the volume of people they asked 373 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 2: me to invite that I do not know or care 374 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:14,920 Speaker 2: if they come, But now it seems like they're using 375 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:18,440 Speaker 2: the financial contribution to be more controlling and make changes 376 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:21,720 Speaker 2: to things. I had decided weeks before my in laws 377 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 2: did not contribute any money to our wedding. My parents 378 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 2: wrote us a check for ten k and said do 379 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 2: with it as you please, with no strings attached. They 380 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 2: don't insist on having any hand in the wedding planning. 381 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:34,919 Speaker 2: This is why I'm now confused why my in laws 382 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 2: are only giving us money now to usurp control, making 383 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 2: me uncomfortable that my mother in law is using me 384 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 2: and my unborn child to carry favor with her circle 385 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 2: of friends, like ooh, look at me, I'm having a grandchild, 386 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:48,640 Speaker 2: lu Logia. 387 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 3: That's just her mo though, that's seems like that's who 388 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:52,880 Speaker 3: she's been this whole time. 389 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:54,639 Speaker 2: Yes to modus operandi. 390 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:56,159 Speaker 3: Mm hm, she loves doing it. 391 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 2: This situation gets more complicated because I can fide it 392 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:01,879 Speaker 2: in one of my friends who had just had a 393 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 2: baby a few weeks ago. Her mother in law sleeps 394 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 2: over and tends to the baby at night while her 395 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 2: and her husband sleep. Her mother in law arrived at 396 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 2: the hospital minutes after she gave birth, and they had 397 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:14,200 Speaker 2: several visitors before they left the hospital, which I find 398 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 2: quite odd. I might need a sea section depending on 399 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 2: the extent of fetal growth restriction. Heading towards the end 400 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:23,639 Speaker 2: of the pregnancy. She invalidates all my concern and tells 401 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 2: me I'm keeping her baby from my mother in law. 402 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:30,439 Speaker 2: This makes me extremely uncomfortable. This is my child first, 403 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 2: before she is my mother in law's grandchild. Titles don't 404 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:36,359 Speaker 2: entitle you to be a part of a child's life. 405 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 2: You have to be invited in and included by the parents. 406 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:42,440 Speaker 2: I don't want my in laws visiting at the hospital. 407 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:45,439 Speaker 2: They might not meet our daughter for weeks after birth 408 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,200 Speaker 2: because I can't predict how my recovery will go after 409 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:50,399 Speaker 2: a sea section. I don't want to be bleeding and 410 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 2: leaking in front of my in laws. I'd like to 411 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 2: enjoy some sense of dignity. Best part of it's. 412 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,679 Speaker 3: Your decision who is in that room or around you 413 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 3: post Sparta's. 414 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 2: One hundred percent your baby, your rules. Mm hmm. I 415 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:07,440 Speaker 2: was also told that it's my responsibility to include my 416 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:09,680 Speaker 2: mother in law in my child's life because of my 417 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 2: sister in law's failures with her children, robbing her of 418 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 2: the proper grandmother relationship. 419 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:17,879 Speaker 3: And I wonder why that is. I wonder why her 420 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:21,200 Speaker 3: sister in law doesn't want to have her mother around 421 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:21,720 Speaker 3: her kids. 422 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 2: Well, it sounds like that's more the sister in law's 423 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:25,880 Speaker 2: problem than the mother in law's problem. 424 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 3: What did the sister in law do? 425 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 2: We don't. We don't know for sure, but anyways, I'm 426 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 2: not sure why I'm being punished for my sister in 427 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 2: law's sins. My husband keeps saying he will talk to 428 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 2: his mom and tell her to stop being overbearing, but 429 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:40,920 Speaker 2: nothing has happened thus far. I just don't want to 430 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:43,840 Speaker 2: feel like an animal at a zoo postpartum, with everyone 431 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 2: barging in and demanding to see me and my baby. 432 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:49,399 Speaker 2: They have a lifetime to build a relationship with her. 433 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:51,399 Speaker 2: Why do they have to see her when she's fresh 434 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:55,359 Speaker 2: out the womb. She's a person, not a doll. Visitors 435 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:58,199 Speaker 2: will be allowed in when I feel comfortable. But then 436 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 2: I get called selfish by my friend and in laws, 437 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 2: thankfully one of those friends. 438 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:05,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, get rid of any friend that's calling you selfish 439 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 3: for not wanting your very difficult family member, or just 440 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 3: anyone not wanting anyone in the room, doesn't really matter 441 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 3: who not supporting you? Not supporting you in that not 442 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:16,400 Speaker 3: your friend. 443 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, it sounds like that friend's got a weird situation 444 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:21,920 Speaker 2: going on with their own in laws or grandma. I 445 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 2: don't know. Thankfully, my mom agrees mother in law's being overbearing. 446 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 2: My parents live across the country, so they might not 447 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 2: meet my daughter until her baptism, and they're okay with that. 448 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 2: I'm worried if we don't set boundaries now with my 449 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 2: in laws, their entitlement will just get worse. Am Ida 450 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 2: hole for how I feel in this situation, and that's 451 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:44,119 Speaker 2: the end of that story. No, I don't think so. No. 452 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:46,640 Speaker 3: No, You're trying to have a baby and you're dealing 453 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 3: with incredibly difficult pregnancy all the while you have your 454 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:54,879 Speaker 3: husband's just awful family breathing down your neck. Yeah, and 455 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:57,480 Speaker 3: you're honestly, I know that your husband's working a lot, 456 00:21:57,640 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 3: but so are you, and you really should be dealing 457 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 3: with this family. 458 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:02,960 Speaker 2: Yeah. And I think, you know, maybe it used to 459 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 2: be more common back in the day for like, you know, 460 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:08,160 Speaker 2: a bunch of people to come visit the hospital when 461 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 2: the baby's born. But I think we understand more now 462 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 2: about how unhealthy and dangerous that can be for you know, 463 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 2: new bossing stress. Yeah and and yeah, just at the 464 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:21,720 Speaker 2: end of the day, causing stress to you. But it's 465 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 2: just the way it is. You know, you used to 466 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:25,360 Speaker 2: be able to smoke in hospitals. Things weren't always better 467 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:28,520 Speaker 2: back in the day. And that's true. And that's the 468 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:30,040 Speaker 2: end of this story. We're going to go on to 469 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 2: the next one. 470 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 3: My husband lent my savings to his stepfather and now 471 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 3: I have nothing. 472 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:38,879 Speaker 2: Well, it doesn't sound like a loan. That sounds like 473 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 2: he gave it away. 474 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 3: In June twenty twenty four, I married a wonderful man 475 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:46,720 Speaker 3: and we started our life together well, love and plans 476 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 3: for the future. I got pregnant very quickly, and when 477 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:53,679 Speaker 3: we found out we were overjoyed, but also nervous because 478 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:56,600 Speaker 3: our plan had been to both work, save enough money, 479 00:22:56,680 --> 00:22:59,200 Speaker 3: and then have our babies. By the way, this comes 480 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 3: from mor Fan eleven eighty seven, and if you want 481 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 3: to spit your own stories, go to the r slash 482 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:04,280 Speaker 3: Okay storytime, separate it. 483 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,400 Speaker 2: I'm Sophia, I'm Dakota, I'm Keon. 484 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:09,119 Speaker 3: And we're here to give good advice. Goofy, but we 485 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:10,200 Speaker 3: don't have all the answers. 486 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:11,119 Speaker 2: We only know what we'd do. 487 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:13,000 Speaker 3: Let us know what you would do in the comments, 488 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:18,000 Speaker 3: and Opie says, everything happened sooner than expected, but we 489 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 3: were still excited and hopeful about this new chapter together. 490 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:26,160 Speaker 3: My husband stepfather asked to borrow almost twenty thousand dollars. 491 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 3: My husband has a hard time saying no, and his 492 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:33,440 Speaker 3: stepfather begged and begged until my husband agreed, not your 493 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 3: husband anymore. That money came from my own work. I 494 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 3: skipped parties, did double and triple shifts, canceled outings, and 495 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 3: saved every coin. I worked tirelessly to gather it, sometimes 496 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:48,160 Speaker 3: even skipping meals and sleeping only two or three hours 497 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:51,439 Speaker 3: a night. My husband promised he would pay me back quickly, 498 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:54,400 Speaker 3: that his stepfather was a good man, and I trusted 499 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 3: him blindly. By December twenty twenty four, his stepfather asked 500 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:02,280 Speaker 3: to move in with us supported him all through December, January, 501 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 3: and February because he didn't want to pay rent, utilities, 502 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 3: or his own expenses. He also had no intention of 503 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 3: paying me back. I literally like, legitimately divorce? 504 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 4: Is that worse? No intention of paying you back? Yeah, 505 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 4: crazy divorce. 506 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:20,480 Speaker 3: I'm divorcing. You should divorce your. 507 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 2: Us A little bib what's twenty k amongst Mary? 508 00:24:23,560 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 4: He's just borrowing it. 509 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:29,640 Speaker 3: Our financial situation got worse and worse. Our savings ran out, 510 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:32,359 Speaker 3: and we started to go hungry. Little by little, we 511 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 3: managed to get by, but I needed him to take 512 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:37,479 Speaker 3: care of himself so that whatever little money we had 513 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:39,520 Speaker 3: left could go entirely to the two of us. 514 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:43,080 Speaker 2: Question, can you eat your uncle? 515 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:47,680 Speaker 3: Your uncle is useless. Your uncle is useless. He got 516 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:49,680 Speaker 3: angry when we asked him to pay his share and 517 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:51,680 Speaker 3: said he would hope little, but he would not pay 518 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:56,359 Speaker 3: everything he owed. I started to feel extremely uncomfortable, especially 519 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:58,720 Speaker 3: because right in front of me he would talk with 520 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:02,639 Speaker 3: his wife buying more materials for the construction of their 521 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:06,359 Speaker 3: house and paying the workers. It made my blood boil. 522 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:09,920 Speaker 3: We barely had money for food. He would not pay 523 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:13,320 Speaker 3: his share of rent or utilities, and on top of that, 524 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:16,200 Speaker 3: he was using his money to build his house. Every day, 525 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:19,399 Speaker 3: my anger grew because that money was mine. I should 526 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:22,080 Speaker 3: not have been living in misery because I lent. 527 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:22,399 Speaker 5: It to him. 528 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:25,360 Speaker 3: Now my home was suffering, and instead of paying me back, 529 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:28,600 Speaker 3: he was building his house and spending freely. We could 530 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 3: not afford maternity clothes or care products, and sometimes we 531 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 3: barely had enough for soap and shampoo while he spent 532 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:38,280 Speaker 3: on his projects than his life. He also tried to 533 00:25:38,359 --> 00:25:40,960 Speaker 3: influence my husband by telling him that the man rules 534 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 3: the house and that I needed to be submissive. My 535 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 3: husband started to believe him. Your husband already believed them. 536 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:51,840 Speaker 2: You're already dollars. You're both broke, and the guy who 537 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 2: took your money is telling him she just needs to 538 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:57,560 Speaker 2: be quiet, and he's like, yeah, you're right. 539 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 3: He divorced your husband, but I threw to leave and 540 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 3: he understood he should not listen to him. When it 541 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:05,439 Speaker 3: was time to give birth, I had to have an 542 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:08,359 Speaker 3: emergency sea section because my baby was too big to 543 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:11,439 Speaker 3: be born naturally because of that I could not produce 544 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 3: milk and we did not have money to buy formula. 545 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:16,399 Speaker 3: We had almost nothing for the baby and only a 546 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 3: few clothes. The first week after delivery, we did not 547 00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 3: even have food to eat. Some members of the church 548 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:25,800 Speaker 3: gave us food, and a friend donated a little milk 549 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:29,120 Speaker 3: so I could feed my baby. Meanwhile, his stepfather bought 550 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 3: food for himself in abundance the entire time. You might 551 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:35,760 Speaker 3: be wondering if my husband worked. Yes, but maybe that 552 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 3: is what hurt me the most. My husband is a subcontractor, 553 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:42,560 Speaker 3: and the contractor who hired him kept lying and saying 554 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:45,320 Speaker 3: he would pay next week. Your husband needs to grow 555 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 3: a backbone. 556 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:48,120 Speaker 4: It's also the type of glood need they talk about 557 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:48,639 Speaker 4: in the Bible. 558 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 3: Literally, your husband needs to grow a backbone and stand 559 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:56,960 Speaker 3: up to his step stepfather demand that twenty thousand dollars back, 560 00:26:57,400 --> 00:26:59,879 Speaker 3: demand that he gets paid. Because your child should not 561 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 3: be going hungry. 562 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:02,399 Speaker 4: Neither should you. 563 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:05,480 Speaker 3: Neither should ope, but like should be going. 564 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:09,680 Speaker 4: Out agree Maybe your husband, Yeah, but this is insane. 565 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:12,639 Speaker 2: If anyone should be hungry, it should be that idiot. 566 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 5: Yeah. 567 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:17,200 Speaker 3: Weeks went by without pay. Sometimes we survived on one 568 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:20,120 Speaker 3: hundred or two hundred dollars a week, using a part 569 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:23,480 Speaker 3: for the house and part for work expenses, always with 570 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:26,760 Speaker 3: the promise of being paid later. The debt now exceeds 571 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:29,960 Speaker 3: fifty thousand dollars and he's simply not going to pay. 572 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:33,440 Speaker 3: After giving birth, I didn't even have basic personal care 573 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:37,200 Speaker 3: products like sanitary pads or things for treating my incision. 574 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 3: If I didn't even have food, I obviously did not 575 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:43,240 Speaker 3: have anything else. On top of all the financial hardship, 576 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:46,840 Speaker 3: his stepfather kept influencing my husband and trying to teach 577 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:49,320 Speaker 3: him how to run her home. The thing is, Opie, 578 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:54,440 Speaker 3: it feels like she is blaming everything that her husband does, 579 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:58,920 Speaker 3: like as just the stepfather's influence. Yeah, when in reality, 580 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:01,920 Speaker 3: your husband is doing that. Your husband is treating you 581 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:04,639 Speaker 3: that way. Your husband took twenty thousand dollars from you. 582 00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:08,240 Speaker 3: Your husband's allowing his stepfather to be in your life. 583 00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 3: That is your husband, not your stepfather. 584 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:13,640 Speaker 2: Your husband allows kind of guy. 585 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:17,200 Speaker 3: Sometimes, he said, he felt lonely and took my husband 586 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:20,879 Speaker 3: away for hours, leaving me alone freshly operated on with 587 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:24,399 Speaker 3: a newborn. My husband is the kindest soul and forgives 588 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:27,480 Speaker 3: everyone no matter what they do. They did a small 589 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 3: job together to earn money, and my husband asked him 590 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:31,560 Speaker 3: to split it so we could buy food. 591 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:34,960 Speaker 4: I'm sorry that line. My husband's a kind the kindest soul, 592 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:38,000 Speaker 4: and let's you know, apologize your husband's doormat. 593 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:42,520 Speaker 3: Your husband's a literal like, yeah, doormat. His stepfather said 594 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:44,600 Speaker 3: he needed the full amount and did not care if 595 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 3: we were left with nothing. My mother in law even 596 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 3: called and said that even if we had nothing, my 597 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:51,120 Speaker 3: husband had to pay his stepfather. 598 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:53,840 Speaker 2: Hey, that's not your mother in law care now how 599 00:28:53,920 --> 00:28:57,720 Speaker 2: money works. Also, if money can't pay you, why is your. 600 00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:00,239 Speaker 3: Mother in law care? Is this her husband? Are they 601 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,200 Speaker 3: still married? Because why isn't he with her? It shocked 602 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:05,400 Speaker 3: me that her husband mattered more to her than her 603 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:09,280 Speaker 3: own son and grandson. Things kept getting worse. My husband 604 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:12,120 Speaker 3: worked through September and part of October and still was 605 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:12,680 Speaker 3: not paid. 606 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:14,920 Speaker 2: Dude, what are you doing? 607 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 3: Stop working there if they're not paying you. We tried 608 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 3: delivery apps, but once we earned a few hundred dollars, 609 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 3: the app locked the account and did not pay us. 610 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:26,840 Speaker 3: He found another job and that person refused to pay us. Well, 611 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:31,160 Speaker 3: what everything's going wrong and nothing gets better? What hurts 612 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:33,120 Speaker 3: me most is that we shouldn't be in this situation 613 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:36,120 Speaker 3: if his stepfather had not stolen the money. Don't his 614 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:39,120 Speaker 3: stepfather didn't steal the money. Let's get that straight. His 615 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:43,240 Speaker 3: stepfather did not steal that money. Your husband gave him 616 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:44,000 Speaker 3: that money. 617 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 2: Well, with the expectation he would be paid back. 618 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 3: I should not be starving, not if he had not 619 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:52,120 Speaker 3: lied and taken my hard earnings. And now with the 620 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 3: little food we have left, sometimes we only eat once 621 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:59,160 Speaker 3: a day. Every time I finished cooking, he conveniently comes downstairs, 622 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:02,320 Speaker 3: hoping my husband will invite him to eat. He has money, 623 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:05,400 Speaker 3: he has my money. He can buy his own food 624 00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 3: and eat whatever he wants. Because of him, I am suffering, 625 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:10,600 Speaker 3: and yet he still expects to eat from the little 626 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 3: we have. One of you has to stand up. You 627 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:16,400 Speaker 3: are parents, you have a child. I understand that you 628 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:19,280 Speaker 3: are in a very awful situation, and ope you have 629 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 3: had the worst of it, But you are parents to 630 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:24,160 Speaker 3: a child that is relying on you and cannot do 631 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:25,800 Speaker 3: anything else, and you need to stand up. 632 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:29,160 Speaker 2: Is this guy is that true crime documentaries start. 633 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:32,280 Speaker 3: If the situation were different and he truly needed help, 634 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 3: I would gladly share, but I will not help someone 635 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:37,160 Speaker 3: who took advantage of us and can easily buy his 636 00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:40,680 Speaker 3: own food. Sometimes, my husband did not have drinking water 637 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:43,400 Speaker 3: in the Texas heat, and his stepfather would eat away 638 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:46,640 Speaker 3: from him to avoid sharing. Yet he still expects us 639 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:49,280 Speaker 3: to feed him. Once my husband offered him the food 640 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:52,240 Speaker 3: I had cooked, and he ate everything. What was meant 641 00:30:52,280 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 3: for the two of us he devoured, leaving us with nothing. 642 00:30:55,400 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 3: Another time he left just a little food, and of 643 00:30:57,760 --> 00:30:59,320 Speaker 3: course I served it all to my husband. 644 00:30:59,520 --> 00:30:59,800 Speaker 2: I got. 645 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:02,640 Speaker 3: I'm so angry. I could not even eat a single bite. 646 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:05,120 Speaker 3: I yelled at my husband for doing that, because that 647 00:31:05,240 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 3: meant we would have no food left, while his stepfather 648 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:10,600 Speaker 3: ate happily and saved his own money. Now we have 649 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:13,160 Speaker 3: no food left, just two cans of beans. We have 650 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:15,960 Speaker 3: tried so hard to find work, but no one pays anymore. 651 00:31:16,440 --> 00:31:18,680 Speaker 3: We tried delivery apps and they kept the money from 652 00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:21,560 Speaker 3: a week's work. Today we're being evicted because we could 653 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:24,880 Speaker 3: not pay rent. We have no electricity, no gas for 654 00:31:24,960 --> 00:31:26,080 Speaker 3: the car, and nothing else. 655 00:31:26,200 --> 00:31:28,200 Speaker 2: What do you mean you did delivery apps and they 656 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:29,120 Speaker 2: kept the money. 657 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:30,720 Speaker 3: That's what do you mean? 658 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:32,560 Speaker 2: No one's paying anymore? 659 00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:33,400 Speaker 3: That's what I'm wondering. 660 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:35,920 Speaker 2: What are we What are you talking? That's what I'm wondering. 661 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:37,480 Speaker 3: Oh, he keeps saying that they go to jobs and 662 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:38,320 Speaker 3: they don't get paid. 663 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:39,200 Speaker 2: Where do we live? 664 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:43,720 Speaker 4: I don't understand Texas. I don't understand my my crazy 665 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:44,680 Speaker 4: they said Texas earlier. 666 00:31:44,760 --> 00:31:45,080 Speaker 2: I don't know. 667 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:48,080 Speaker 3: I mean like, I don't know, and he still wants 668 00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:50,240 Speaker 3: to eat what little I have left. I opened to 669 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:52,520 Speaker 3: GoFundMe to try to get some help, but I'm terrible 670 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:54,920 Speaker 3: at asking for money, so I gave up. Am I 671 00:31:55,040 --> 00:31:57,240 Speaker 3: really the bad one? Do I need to change? You 672 00:31:57,320 --> 00:31:59,240 Speaker 3: do need to change. You not the bad one, but 673 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:01,520 Speaker 3: you do need to change. You need to start standing 674 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:04,760 Speaker 3: up for yourself and your child because no one else 675 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:07,520 Speaker 3: is going to Literally your husband certainly not going to 676 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:10,120 Speaker 3: do it. I just need some healthy advice because my 677 00:32:10,240 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 3: heart is so heavy with pain. I managed to get 678 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:15,840 Speaker 3: food through a church. That same church also paid our rent, 679 00:32:16,360 --> 00:32:19,720 Speaker 3: and another church covered our electricity bill. What did my 680 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:23,280 Speaker 3: husband's stepfather do? He slept all day while my husband 681 00:32:23,320 --> 00:32:26,280 Speaker 3: struggled to fix everything. I'm tired of being seen as 682 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:29,040 Speaker 3: a bad person just because I demand respect for our 683 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:31,760 Speaker 3: home and our baby. We left the state where we 684 00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 3: had been living to start over somewhere new and hopefully 685 00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:38,040 Speaker 3: find better job opportunities. Guests who came along without paying 686 00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:40,480 Speaker 3: a single cent towards the moving expenses, why are you 687 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:44,880 Speaker 3: acting like you're like you're forced to have him there? 688 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:47,920 Speaker 3: We had to sell almost all our few belongings for 689 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:50,760 Speaker 3: pennies just to afford the trip. He sat in the 690 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:54,360 Speaker 3: passenger seat for twenty six hours, eating and sleeping without 691 00:32:54,400 --> 00:32:57,000 Speaker 3: spending a single dollar, not even to pay for his 692 00:32:57,080 --> 00:32:57,600 Speaker 3: own food. 693 00:32:57,840 --> 00:33:00,960 Speaker 4: At this point, I'm not saying you're an a hole. 694 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:04,680 Speaker 3: But you're certainly complicit to a certain ascent. 695 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:06,080 Speaker 4: There you go, Thank you. 696 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:08,880 Speaker 3: We rented the cheapest hotel we could find in the 697 00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:11,680 Speaker 3: new place until my husband starts working and we can 698 00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:14,400 Speaker 3: save up to rent a decent home. He didn't pay 699 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:18,280 Speaker 3: for the lodging either. I truly don't understand why this 700 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:21,240 Speaker 3: man with a wife is staying with you guys. I'm 701 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:24,480 Speaker 3: exhausted and fed up with this situation. What frustrates me 702 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:26,640 Speaker 3: the most is that he hasn't paid for anything because 703 00:33:26,680 --> 00:33:29,080 Speaker 3: he claims to have no money, yet he hoards our 704 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:31,800 Speaker 3: few hygiene products. I've not been able to shower for 705 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:34,960 Speaker 3: four days because he uses everything up. Last night I 706 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:37,760 Speaker 3: hid the shampoo so I could bathe, and right in 707 00:33:37,880 --> 00:33:39,800 Speaker 3: front of me, he went through my things until he 708 00:33:39,880 --> 00:33:43,160 Speaker 3: found it and used it. My husband does nothing as 709 00:33:43,280 --> 00:33:45,120 Speaker 3: calmly as I could. I told him I could not 710 00:33:45,440 --> 00:33:48,600 Speaker 3: take this man anymore. He argued and yelled at me 711 00:33:48,680 --> 00:33:52,280 Speaker 3: and calling me hateful, resentful, and hypocritical for trying to 712 00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:53,880 Speaker 3: follow Christ while feeling angry. 713 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:58,400 Speaker 2: Is this your husband? There's the angle this is all 714 00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:01,760 Speaker 2: because it's like, you gotta respect the elders. There's probably 715 00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:04,840 Speaker 2: a church angle to this. There's a faith angle to this. 716 00:34:05,280 --> 00:34:09,279 Speaker 2: Nobody just does this without some sort of something else 717 00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:09,640 Speaker 2: going on. 718 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:12,640 Speaker 3: How can I be kind when he keeps stepping all 719 00:34:12,680 --> 00:34:15,160 Speaker 3: over us. We have very little money left and almost 720 00:34:15,239 --> 00:34:18,520 Speaker 3: nothing for food, and my husband keeps blaming me. He says, 721 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:21,520 Speaker 3: I'm a bad person for resenting him. But it's not fair. 722 00:34:22,080 --> 00:34:24,239 Speaker 2: This dude's giving away twenty K because he's like, well, 723 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:25,320 Speaker 2: that's what Christ would do. 724 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:32,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, he is absurd, actively neglecting his child by doing this. 725 00:34:32,880 --> 00:34:35,320 Speaker 3: I know that sounds like it sounds harsh because you 726 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:36,920 Speaker 3: guys are in a really awful situation. 727 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:41,080 Speaker 4: That's not even harsh, that's just that's just true. He's neglect. 728 00:34:41,120 --> 00:34:44,160 Speaker 3: You're giving away your child. Yeah, you're giving away your 729 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:47,920 Speaker 3: child and your wife's food, your stepfather who doesn't eat it. 730 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:50,360 Speaker 3: I am only in a situation because he took my 731 00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:54,240 Speaker 3: money and drained our resources. Even now when we have nothing, 732 00:34:54,360 --> 00:34:57,080 Speaker 3: he continues doing the same. But to my husband, I'm 733 00:34:57,160 --> 00:34:59,319 Speaker 3: the bad one. I told him I do not want 734 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:01,920 Speaker 3: that man living with us anymore for my own emotional 735 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:04,880 Speaker 3: wellbeing and do not want to see him again. My 736 00:35:05,040 --> 00:35:07,640 Speaker 3: husband gets angry and insists he's going to stay with us. 737 00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:09,800 Speaker 3: I cannot take this anymore. 738 00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:12,520 Speaker 2: Then leave, leave, get out. Leave. 739 00:35:13,239 --> 00:35:16,239 Speaker 3: Right now, I'm watching my baby sleep uncomfortably instead of 740 00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:19,279 Speaker 3: in his clean and cozy bed because of him, And 741 00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:22,040 Speaker 3: despite everything, I'm still seen as the bad one and 742 00:35:22,160 --> 00:35:22,680 Speaker 3: the problem. 743 00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:26,439 Speaker 4: I'm I'm sorry again. This is one of those realistic things. Yeah, 744 00:35:26,480 --> 00:35:29,120 Speaker 4: you got to stop pointing the finger at people and 745 00:35:29,360 --> 00:35:30,920 Speaker 4: like it's his fault, he's gonna fix this. 746 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:33,040 Speaker 3: Pay responsibility for your own life. 747 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:35,840 Speaker 4: At this point, you just got to just tie up 748 00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:39,360 Speaker 4: your boots, walk on out with your baby and just 749 00:35:39,440 --> 00:35:42,359 Speaker 4: start moving forward and stop pointing the finger like they're 750 00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:42,920 Speaker 4: gonna fix it. 751 00:35:43,120 --> 00:35:46,360 Speaker 3: Just you're not comment one. Wake the f up and 752 00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:48,920 Speaker 3: leave your worthless, coward husband. Until that happens, it's your 753 00:35:48,960 --> 00:35:52,360 Speaker 3: own fault. That's the only comment we got, which is 754 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:53,160 Speaker 3: pretty succinct. 755 00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:55,440 Speaker 2: And that's the end of this story. We're gonna go 756 00:35:55,480 --> 00:35:56,200 Speaker 2: on to the next one. 757 00:35:57,000 --> 00:35:58,960 Speaker 1: Hey, it's Sam. We're gonna get back to the stories. 758 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:00,840 Speaker 1: But here's three minutes of from our sponsors. 759 00:36:01,480 --> 00:36:05,160 Speaker 2: My husband treats fatherhood like an optional hobby and I 760 00:36:05,320 --> 00:36:06,359 Speaker 2: think I want out. 761 00:36:06,840 --> 00:36:08,239 Speaker 5: Yeah, that's not a hobby at all. 762 00:36:08,560 --> 00:36:11,520 Speaker 2: I thirty one female. I'm contemplating divorce from my thirty 763 00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:14,600 Speaker 2: four male husband, but don't know if it's just postpartum 764 00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:17,440 Speaker 2: related hormones or stressors. I am unsure if my feelings 765 00:36:17,440 --> 00:36:19,840 Speaker 2: are valid or if I should wait until this postpartum 766 00:36:19,880 --> 00:36:22,000 Speaker 2: period is done. By the way, this comes from user 767 00:36:22,239 --> 00:36:25,880 Speaker 2: Happy homeless Liness, And if you want to submit your 768 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:27,920 Speaker 2: own stories, go to the r slash Okay storytime subert It. 769 00:36:27,960 --> 00:36:30,040 Speaker 2: I'm Dakota, I'm Carly, and we are both here to 770 00:36:30,080 --> 00:36:31,839 Speaker 2: give you a little good advice. Goofly, But we don't 771 00:36:31,840 --> 00:36:35,759 Speaker 2: have all answers. We're not professional answerers of things in 772 00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:39,439 Speaker 2: all knowing eyes. We're just people. If you do something 773 00:36:39,480 --> 00:36:40,880 Speaker 2: different than us, why don't you just let us know? 774 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:43,640 Speaker 2: In the comments and op says, I've read that the 775 00:36:43,680 --> 00:36:46,000 Speaker 2: first year after birth can cause a lot of stress 776 00:36:46,080 --> 00:36:48,239 Speaker 2: on a marriage and that one should wait before making 777 00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:50,759 Speaker 2: any rash decisions. Would I be the a hole for 778 00:36:50,880 --> 00:36:54,480 Speaker 2: asking for a divorce before fully passing distressful time period. 779 00:36:54,600 --> 00:36:57,120 Speaker 2: We have been together twelve years, married six We have 780 00:36:57,160 --> 00:36:59,239 Speaker 2: a three and a half year old and five month old, 781 00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:02,600 Speaker 2: both boys. My mind recently has been screaming at me 782 00:37:02,719 --> 00:37:04,800 Speaker 2: to divorce. I don't know if it's relevant, but I 783 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:07,520 Speaker 2: have ADHD and have been a people pleaser all my life. 784 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:10,560 Speaker 2: I do think it's contributed to getting me to this point. 785 00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:14,960 Speaker 2: I am internally unhappily married after getting everything I have 786 00:37:15,239 --> 00:37:18,919 Speaker 2: ever dreamed of, two beautiful children, a husband, a lovely home, 787 00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:21,880 Speaker 2: and a thriving career. But I'm so unhappy on a 788 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:25,680 Speaker 2: day to day basis. I do not think it's postpartum depression. 789 00:37:26,120 --> 00:37:28,880 Speaker 2: I had it with my first and this feels very different. 790 00:37:29,040 --> 00:37:32,280 Speaker 2: We are both full time employed. I am in office 791 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:35,560 Speaker 2: Monday through Friday, and he is essentially remote Monday through 792 00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:38,439 Speaker 2: Friday and might go in once every couple weeks or month. 793 00:37:38,560 --> 00:37:41,080 Speaker 2: Today we went shopping all four of us for Christmas 794 00:37:41,160 --> 00:37:43,960 Speaker 2: Tree Day corps so we could decorate. In my mind, 795 00:37:44,160 --> 00:37:45,840 Speaker 2: this being the first time with our three and a 796 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:48,880 Speaker 2: half year old son being aware and involved in the 797 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:51,319 Speaker 2: day core choices and decorating, it would be a fun 798 00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:54,120 Speaker 2: and lovely memory or activity for us all. On the 799 00:37:54,239 --> 00:37:56,720 Speaker 2: federal holiday, it was a day off for us both. 800 00:37:57,160 --> 00:37:59,839 Speaker 2: I proposed the idea to go shopping and decorating when 801 00:37:59,840 --> 00:38:02,239 Speaker 2: my husband was getting up and he was on board. 802 00:38:02,440 --> 00:38:04,560 Speaker 2: I got myself and the kids ready and we all 803 00:38:04,680 --> 00:38:07,919 Speaker 2: went to Tarja. We got the goods, We came home. 804 00:38:08,200 --> 00:38:11,400 Speaker 2: Husband basically went straight to his office to play video games. 805 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:13,080 Speaker 2: So I decorated the tree with our three and a 806 00:38:13,080 --> 00:38:15,640 Speaker 2: half year old while holding the fussy teething baby. I 807 00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:19,360 Speaker 2: was not able to fully enjoy it while juggling, soothing 808 00:38:19,480 --> 00:38:21,840 Speaker 2: the baby and being as engaged as possible with our 809 00:38:21,880 --> 00:38:23,480 Speaker 2: three and a half year old. I could also not 810 00:38:23,680 --> 00:38:26,840 Speaker 2: get any pictures together other than yet another selfie, just 811 00:38:26,960 --> 00:38:29,920 Speaker 2: pictures of him doing his best hooking up ornaments. This evening, 812 00:38:30,080 --> 00:38:32,680 Speaker 2: husband was still gaming and I was with the kids 813 00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:36,080 Speaker 2: struggling with accommodating both of their needs. I called his 814 00:38:36,200 --> 00:38:39,520 Speaker 2: phone and said I needed him. He said okay five minutes, 815 00:38:39,560 --> 00:38:43,000 Speaker 2: which was not really helpful, but sure. Kid was saying 816 00:38:43,040 --> 00:38:45,400 Speaker 2: he was hungry, while the teething and fussy infant was 817 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:49,440 Speaker 2: finally content on my chest while sitting not being walked around. 818 00:38:49,719 --> 00:38:51,919 Speaker 2: Was exhausted from the day and did not want to move. 819 00:38:52,040 --> 00:38:54,120 Speaker 2: But I had two of them now, so I got 820 00:38:54,239 --> 00:38:55,600 Speaker 2: up to make my three and a half year old 821 00:38:55,640 --> 00:38:58,880 Speaker 2: some food, crying baby in hand. Fifteen minutes later, husband 822 00:38:59,160 --> 00:39:01,879 Speaker 2: started walking up stairs. By this point we both were 823 00:39:01,920 --> 00:39:04,920 Speaker 2: settled and I was seething. I said just go back 824 00:39:04,960 --> 00:39:07,520 Speaker 2: downstairs before he even got to the top of the stairs, 825 00:39:07,760 --> 00:39:10,480 Speaker 2: and he did. Sitting there fuming, I got the urge 826 00:39:10,520 --> 00:39:13,640 Speaker 2: to start writing down his discretions in my mind. I 827 00:39:13,840 --> 00:39:16,960 Speaker 2: opened my notes app and started jotting down all of 828 00:39:17,040 --> 00:39:19,320 Speaker 2: my gripes. And here they are. He can't wait to 829 00:39:19,400 --> 00:39:21,960 Speaker 2: get back to his video games every evening after work, 830 00:39:22,040 --> 00:39:24,440 Speaker 2: every weekend or day off. He does not outright say it, 831 00:39:24,680 --> 00:39:27,840 Speaker 2: but I can tell it always feels like we're inconveniencing 832 00:39:27,960 --> 00:39:30,160 Speaker 2: him when we're out just living life or trying to 833 00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:33,759 Speaker 2: make special memories. No unnecessary or unplanned stops. Just get 834 00:39:33,800 --> 00:39:37,000 Speaker 2: to where we're planned and get home. I've asked repeatedly 835 00:39:37,160 --> 00:39:39,080 Speaker 2: that when I get home with the kids after work, 836 00:39:39,120 --> 00:39:41,480 Speaker 2: he come upstairs to help I drop off and pick 837 00:39:41,600 --> 00:39:45,359 Speaker 2: up from daycare. Every workday, he is well passed done 838 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:48,120 Speaker 2: working by this time. Usually I'm left tending to a 839 00:39:48,239 --> 00:39:50,200 Speaker 2: hungry child and a fussy infant for the thirty plus 840 00:39:50,280 --> 00:39:53,000 Speaker 2: minutes until he bothers to come upstairs and help. It's 841 00:39:53,080 --> 00:39:55,120 Speaker 2: usually when I'm already at my wits end and he 842 00:39:55,200 --> 00:39:57,440 Speaker 2: thinks he is saving the day by grabbing the baby 843 00:39:57,520 --> 00:39:59,520 Speaker 2: so I can focus on getting the dishes done. Is 844 00:39:59,560 --> 00:40:02,080 Speaker 2: twenty minut minutes of half attention is too late, and 845 00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:04,479 Speaker 2: he might as well have stayed gaming instead of sitting 846 00:40:04,520 --> 00:40:07,239 Speaker 2: on the couch staring at his phone, getting frustrated and 847 00:40:07,360 --> 00:40:09,399 Speaker 2: snapping because his three and a half year old wants 848 00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:11,800 Speaker 2: his attention. Or he might put in fifteen to thirty 849 00:40:11,840 --> 00:40:14,719 Speaker 2: minutes of active playtime and feel his job is done 850 00:40:15,120 --> 00:40:16,920 Speaker 2: and go back to gaming. It sounds like your husband 851 00:40:16,920 --> 00:40:21,080 Speaker 2: has a gaming addiction, and like once that hijacks your pathways, 852 00:40:21,400 --> 00:40:24,160 Speaker 2: you really don't want to do anything else. I think, 853 00:40:24,520 --> 00:40:28,319 Speaker 2: y'all he needs therapy. Y'all need therapy. Ninety nine zero 854 00:40:28,360 --> 00:40:31,560 Speaker 2: point nine percent of household up keep is on me. 855 00:40:31,880 --> 00:40:35,480 Speaker 2: He might clean the kitchen once every three months while 856 00:40:35,480 --> 00:40:38,160 Speaker 2: I'm at work, but he expects a thank you for 857 00:40:38,400 --> 00:40:41,400 Speaker 2: far below the bare minimum make me a list. I 858 00:40:41,520 --> 00:40:44,200 Speaker 2: am not his manager. He does not love my family. 859 00:40:44,520 --> 00:40:47,480 Speaker 2: It seems like he despises them. I've always been close 860 00:40:47,640 --> 00:40:49,880 Speaker 2: to my family, but he has no interest in spending 861 00:40:50,040 --> 00:40:53,279 Speaker 2: any time with them. I only make one stop if 862 00:40:53,320 --> 00:40:55,360 Speaker 2: he is going to town to get something such as 863 00:40:55,480 --> 00:40:58,279 Speaker 2: prescriptions or gas or take out or anything else. He 864 00:40:58,400 --> 00:41:01,120 Speaker 2: refuses to make a second stuff to help me or 865 00:41:01,200 --> 00:41:03,560 Speaker 2: the family, even if it is just picking up a 866 00:41:03,640 --> 00:41:05,960 Speaker 2: grocery order or going into the store to grab a 867 00:41:06,040 --> 00:41:09,200 Speaker 2: single thing. Town is a fifteen minute drive away. Countless 868 00:41:09,239 --> 00:41:11,400 Speaker 2: times I've had to drive into town right after he 869 00:41:11,480 --> 00:41:13,799 Speaker 2: got home for something that would have taken him ten 870 00:41:13,920 --> 00:41:16,480 Speaker 2: extra minutes. Most nights, he comes to bed at two 871 00:41:16,560 --> 00:41:19,040 Speaker 2: to five in the morning and shines his phone flashlight 872 00:41:19,080 --> 00:41:22,440 Speaker 2: in the room, somehow always into my face, waking me 873 00:41:22,560 --> 00:41:24,960 Speaker 2: up an additional time, on top of the several times 874 00:41:25,080 --> 00:41:27,320 Speaker 2: the baby already wakes me up. I asked him to 875 00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:28,960 Speaker 2: stop and to go to the guest room if he's 876 00:41:29,000 --> 00:41:31,280 Speaker 2: going to come to bed so late. He has continued 877 00:41:31,320 --> 00:41:35,000 Speaker 2: doing it anyway. He offers no help with tracking daycare 878 00:41:35,120 --> 00:41:38,680 Speaker 2: or clothing or diapers or formula or feeding, or appointments 879 00:41:38,840 --> 00:41:41,440 Speaker 2: or nighttime care needs. I have one hundred percent of 880 00:41:41,520 --> 00:41:45,319 Speaker 2: the mental load of parenting. He rarely stops staring at 881 00:41:45,360 --> 00:41:48,600 Speaker 2: his phone to have intimate or casual conversation. This is 882 00:41:48,760 --> 00:41:51,760 Speaker 2: especially bothersome when dining out together or with the kids, 883 00:41:51,920 --> 00:41:55,120 Speaker 2: or with extended family. It also happens when we're together 884 00:41:55,239 --> 00:41:58,040 Speaker 2: in the living room or the car I always drive us. 885 00:41:58,360 --> 00:42:00,680 Speaker 2: If I try to start a conversation and he does 886 00:42:00,760 --> 00:42:04,240 Speaker 2: not put his phone down, I usually stop talking mid sentence. 887 00:42:04,440 --> 00:42:06,640 Speaker 2: If he says he's listening, I usually just say I 888 00:42:06,680 --> 00:42:08,520 Speaker 2: don't want to talk to him like that, and he 889 00:42:08,600 --> 00:42:11,360 Speaker 2: continues scrolling. It is embarrassing when we are out at 890 00:42:11,400 --> 00:42:15,279 Speaker 2: a restaurant. Overwhelmingly, the only time we spend together just 891 00:42:15,400 --> 00:42:18,520 Speaker 2: the two of us is watching TV. Rarely dates, maybe 892 00:42:18,640 --> 00:42:22,640 Speaker 2: once or twice a year. No fun evenings, doing simple 893 00:42:22,760 --> 00:42:25,480 Speaker 2: things like board games. I don't even have a reference 894 00:42:25,560 --> 00:42:27,680 Speaker 2: for what a couple would do for fun beyond watching 895 00:42:27,719 --> 00:42:30,680 Speaker 2: TV together. That's how far gone it is. If we 896 00:42:30,800 --> 00:42:33,400 Speaker 2: do fund outings together as a family, I have to 897 00:42:33,440 --> 00:42:36,360 Speaker 2: plan it and he generally makes it more stressful. The 898 00:42:36,480 --> 00:42:40,320 Speaker 2: first TIFFs usually stem from my overwhelmed attitude getting everyone 899 00:42:40,400 --> 00:42:42,520 Speaker 2: ready and out the door. I hurry him to get 900 00:42:42,560 --> 00:42:44,640 Speaker 2: his shoes on because we're finally ready to get off 901 00:42:44,719 --> 00:42:47,239 Speaker 2: the toilet, because we're waiting in the car or I 902 00:42:47,320 --> 00:42:49,160 Speaker 2: shut down and need to breathe while we get on 903 00:42:49,239 --> 00:42:51,719 Speaker 2: the road. He asks why I'm so stressed all the time. 904 00:42:51,880 --> 00:42:54,920 Speaker 2: By the time we're leaving, I'm usually regretting bringing him. 905 00:42:55,080 --> 00:42:57,520 Speaker 2: I buzz his hair for him. I did not clean 906 00:42:57,600 --> 00:42:59,640 Speaker 2: it up off the floor two times ago, and I 907 00:42:59,719 --> 00:43:02,600 Speaker 2: have been testing to see if he will cut hair 908 00:43:02,800 --> 00:43:05,520 Speaker 2: is still on the bathroom floor for two plus months, 909 00:43:05,960 --> 00:43:08,400 Speaker 2: and I cut it again last week in the same location. 910 00:43:08,760 --> 00:43:11,120 Speaker 2: All of it is still there. I really think you 911 00:43:11,280 --> 00:43:13,160 Speaker 2: need to go to your husband and be like, I'm 912 00:43:13,200 --> 00:43:15,239 Speaker 2: really feeling like I'm at the end of my rope 913 00:43:15,280 --> 00:43:17,600 Speaker 2: and if changes aren't made, I can't stay with you. 914 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:21,200 Speaker 2: I would agree that he needs to wake up to 915 00:43:21,280 --> 00:43:25,479 Speaker 2: the reality that you are ready and willing to leave. 916 00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:28,919 Speaker 2: Because he thinks that he is bulletproof. He never takes 917 00:43:28,960 --> 00:43:32,320 Speaker 2: pictures of me and the boys without me explicitly asking 918 00:43:32,520 --> 00:43:36,320 Speaker 2: I'm indulged, without groaning only on special holidays. Otherwise it 919 00:43:36,360 --> 00:43:38,839 Speaker 2: seems like a bother to him, or like I'm being 920 00:43:38,920 --> 00:43:42,160 Speaker 2: superficial for wanting to preserve memories with me and them. 921 00:43:42,400 --> 00:43:45,279 Speaker 2: I take lovely, candid photos of him with the kids 922 00:43:45,320 --> 00:43:48,879 Speaker 2: all the time. He does not compliment me unprompted. Ever, 923 00:43:49,200 --> 00:43:52,120 Speaker 2: even when I prompt him, he generally has a silly response. 924 00:43:52,360 --> 00:43:55,440 Speaker 2: I do not feel desired. He rarely shows me affection 925 00:43:55,600 --> 00:43:59,200 Speaker 2: and less initiating spicy sleep. We generally never kiss unless 926 00:43:59,280 --> 00:44:02,359 Speaker 2: having spicy sleep. Maybe a quick peck here or there, 927 00:44:02,520 --> 00:44:05,879 Speaker 2: almost always initiated by me. He does not care if 928 00:44:06,080 --> 00:44:09,640 Speaker 2: I enjoy spicy sleep. When the rare effort is put 929 00:44:09,840 --> 00:44:12,920 Speaker 2: in to try, he gets frustrated by my direction on 930 00:44:13,000 --> 00:44:15,440 Speaker 2: how to please me. He's fine that he has not 931 00:44:16,280 --> 00:44:19,240 Speaker 2: given me an oh moment in at least three years. 932 00:44:19,680 --> 00:44:22,399 Speaker 2: We have spicy sleep, sometimes one to two times a week, 933 00:44:22,520 --> 00:44:24,839 Speaker 2: but generally it is one to two times a month 934 00:44:25,120 --> 00:44:28,440 Speaker 2: or less. So where is my stuff? Questions? There are 935 00:44:28,520 --> 00:44:30,600 Speaker 2: piles of laundry on the side of his bed. He 936 00:44:30,760 --> 00:44:33,000 Speaker 2: cannot bother to put it in the laundry hamper six 937 00:44:33,080 --> 00:44:35,880 Speaker 2: feet away. I've silently refused to pick it up. I 938 00:44:35,920 --> 00:44:38,520 Speaker 2: have also stopped putting his clean laundry away. I will 939 00:44:38,719 --> 00:44:41,160 Speaker 2: wash what makes it to the hamper, but clean clothes 940 00:44:41,239 --> 00:44:44,120 Speaker 2: go unfolded in a basket. My own clothes I happily 941 00:44:44,200 --> 00:44:46,759 Speaker 2: hang and fold. It has been about two months. He 942 00:44:46,800 --> 00:44:48,920 Speaker 2: has not said anything. He has not put away his 943 00:44:49,040 --> 00:44:51,759 Speaker 2: own clothes. He has no interest in grooming himself to 944 00:44:51,840 --> 00:44:54,680 Speaker 2: appeal to me. I put in effort on myself. I 945 00:44:54,760 --> 00:44:56,879 Speaker 2: get my hair done every couple of months and dressed 946 00:44:56,960 --> 00:44:58,800 Speaker 2: nice with hair and makeup when going out, and have 947 00:44:58,880 --> 00:45:01,520 Speaker 2: been making efforts losing the baby. Wait, I would consider 948 00:45:01,600 --> 00:45:03,920 Speaker 2: myself an attractive woman. I wish he would put in 949 00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:05,920 Speaker 2: a bit of effort, but this alone would never be 950 00:45:06,080 --> 00:45:09,080 Speaker 2: a make or break. Gripe my day's off work while 951 00:45:09,160 --> 00:45:11,239 Speaker 2: having the kids still at daycare so I can get 952 00:45:11,280 --> 00:45:14,680 Speaker 2: things done, are overwhelmingly used for upkeep projects on the 953 00:45:14,719 --> 00:45:17,239 Speaker 2: house or family needs. I do love him, and it 954 00:45:17,239 --> 00:45:19,879 Speaker 2: would break my heart to break his. I just don't 955 00:45:20,000 --> 00:45:22,080 Speaker 2: know if at this moment in time, I am in 956 00:45:22,200 --> 00:45:25,360 Speaker 2: love with him. This could just be the wildly fluctuating 957 00:45:25,400 --> 00:45:28,280 Speaker 2: hormones that come with postpartum healing and something I should 958 00:45:28,320 --> 00:45:30,799 Speaker 2: give time to pass before altering our lives. Forever. 959 00:45:31,080 --> 00:45:34,120 Speaker 5: I think it's very telling how a man behaves. 960 00:45:33,800 --> 00:45:36,680 Speaker 2: After his wife has Yeah, I think it's And this. 961 00:45:36,880 --> 00:45:39,920 Speaker 5: Is showing very obviously that this is a little poopu man, 962 00:45:39,960 --> 00:45:41,719 Speaker 5: because this is a second kid and he's still acting 963 00:45:41,840 --> 00:45:42,040 Speaker 5: like this. 964 00:45:42,239 --> 00:45:44,680 Speaker 2: He's not taking any just the fact he's not taking 965 00:45:44,719 --> 00:45:46,880 Speaker 2: any like nightly duties for the child at all. 966 00:45:47,400 --> 00:45:50,080 Speaker 5: The fact is he's shut up sometimes still five am, 967 00:45:50,320 --> 00:45:53,200 Speaker 5: and you are still the one waking up to take 968 00:45:53,280 --> 00:45:54,040 Speaker 5: care of the baby. 969 00:45:54,160 --> 00:45:57,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, he's up already. The easiest compromise ever, It's like, oh, 970 00:45:57,520 --> 00:46:00,120 Speaker 2: I like to stay up late in game perfect. You 971 00:46:00,200 --> 00:46:03,280 Speaker 2: can stay up late and then hey, every forty five minutes, 972 00:46:03,560 --> 00:46:05,480 Speaker 2: take care of the kid. My thought at this point 973 00:46:05,640 --> 00:46:07,799 Speaker 2: is that I will likely at the right time, telling 974 00:46:07,880 --> 00:46:10,560 Speaker 2: me needs to schedule us for couples counseling or we're 975 00:46:10,600 --> 00:46:13,319 Speaker 2: headed for a divorce. Every time my brain starts yelling 976 00:46:13,360 --> 00:46:15,799 Speaker 2: to scream divorce, I know I'm not in a proper 977 00:46:15,880 --> 00:46:19,320 Speaker 2: emotional state to effectively communicate the change I need to 978 00:46:19,400 --> 00:46:21,640 Speaker 2: see in order for me to be happier in our marriage, 979 00:46:22,000 --> 00:46:24,200 Speaker 2: to make it a partnership rather than me holding what 980 00:46:24,320 --> 00:46:26,800 Speaker 2: feels like all the weight. I am scared scared I 981 00:46:26,840 --> 00:46:29,320 Speaker 2: will make a rash decision and ruin my family. We 982 00:46:29,480 --> 00:46:31,560 Speaker 2: talk about our dreams for the future, and we talk 983 00:46:31,600 --> 00:46:33,759 Speaker 2: about the things we want to do and achieve, fun 984 00:46:33,840 --> 00:46:37,319 Speaker 2: trips with the boys where we will retire, exciting improvements 985 00:46:37,560 --> 00:46:39,719 Speaker 2: we will make on the house, et cetera. And I 986 00:46:39,880 --> 00:46:41,960 Speaker 2: do not want to lose those dreams. I don't want 987 00:46:42,000 --> 00:46:44,520 Speaker 2: my boys growing up in a divided household if they 988 00:46:44,560 --> 00:46:47,360 Speaker 2: do not need to. I'm also scared that I'm wasting 989 00:46:47,440 --> 00:46:50,120 Speaker 2: my life by staying that I'm the only one interested 990 00:46:50,160 --> 00:46:53,160 Speaker 2: in really living life and growing, and that he is 991 00:46:53,239 --> 00:46:55,360 Speaker 2: holding me back from doing that to the full extent. 992 00:46:55,520 --> 00:46:57,400 Speaker 2: The thought that there is more to life than this 993 00:46:57,640 --> 00:46:59,960 Speaker 2: survival state I am in, that there is a low 994 00:47:00,280 --> 00:47:02,920 Speaker 2: out there where I will feel adored and appreciated and 995 00:47:03,000 --> 00:47:05,440 Speaker 2: taken care of. Because I don't feel any of that 996 00:47:05,600 --> 00:47:08,560 Speaker 2: right now, nor have I for a very long time. 997 00:47:08,800 --> 00:47:10,840 Speaker 2: I often feel like life would be easier at this 998 00:47:10,960 --> 00:47:13,520 Speaker 2: moment as a single mom. If anything, it seems like 999 00:47:13,920 --> 00:47:16,680 Speaker 2: less work because I would not have to tend to him, 1000 00:47:16,840 --> 00:47:18,920 Speaker 2: I would not have to carry the expectation of help 1001 00:47:18,960 --> 00:47:22,000 Speaker 2: from someone who should be my partner, and the inevitable 1002 00:47:22,080 --> 00:47:25,080 Speaker 2: Cortisol spikes when I don't get that help. Boways made 1003 00:47:25,080 --> 00:47:28,160 Speaker 2: it a rule not to meaningfully complain about my relationship 1004 00:47:28,239 --> 00:47:30,560 Speaker 2: to friends or family. That is why I am here 1005 00:47:30,760 --> 00:47:34,800 Speaker 2: now asking for an unbiased, third party opinion. What I 1006 00:47:34,880 --> 00:47:37,400 Speaker 2: have written here is obviously not the whole picture, and 1007 00:47:37,480 --> 00:47:39,719 Speaker 2: I welcome questions that aid you in seeing more of 1008 00:47:39,800 --> 00:47:42,880 Speaker 2: the picture leading to better advice and insight. Thank you, 1009 00:47:43,080 --> 00:47:45,960 Speaker 2: and we have some comments. Comment one, you are already 1010 00:47:46,000 --> 00:47:48,560 Speaker 2: a single mom. You are doing it all alone. There 1011 00:47:48,680 --> 00:47:52,040 Speaker 2: is so much peace not carrying a full grown man 1012 00:47:52,239 --> 00:47:54,600 Speaker 2: along for the ride. I heard this a few months ago. 1013 00:47:55,160 --> 00:47:57,520 Speaker 2: Men will teach women to do it all alone, then 1014 00:47:57,600 --> 00:48:00,600 Speaker 2: be mad that she chooses to do it all alone. 1015 00:48:00,760 --> 00:48:03,400 Speaker 2: Choose you and your piece, not the A hole. Reply 1016 00:48:03,520 --> 00:48:06,000 Speaker 2: says I wanted to write exactly this, Oh p. He says, 1017 00:48:06,080 --> 00:48:09,120 Speaker 2: she's scared of making a rash decision, but her situation 1018 00:48:09,320 --> 00:48:11,640 Speaker 2: is worse than single motherhood. Her husband is like a 1019 00:48:11,800 --> 00:48:15,000 Speaker 2: moody teenager who also expects spicy sleep from her. You 1020 00:48:15,120 --> 00:48:17,319 Speaker 2: can knock that chore right off your to do list. 1021 00:48:17,480 --> 00:48:20,040 Speaker 2: If I had a sliver of hope that he might change, 1022 00:48:20,120 --> 00:48:22,680 Speaker 2: which I don't, I might suggest giving him a taste 1023 00:48:22,680 --> 00:48:25,480 Speaker 2: of his own medicine, get on top, have spicy sleep 1024 00:48:25,520 --> 00:48:27,879 Speaker 2: how you like. They make zero effort to get him off, 1025 00:48:28,080 --> 00:48:31,080 Speaker 2: and dismiss any complaints he makes about it. Oh p beware, 1026 00:48:31,320 --> 00:48:33,680 Speaker 2: he may change for a short time if he notices 1027 00:48:33,719 --> 00:48:36,640 Speaker 2: you pull away or assert yourself, but his behavior is systematic. 1028 00:48:36,800 --> 00:48:38,839 Speaker 2: He has chosen to do the bare minimum in every 1029 00:48:38,880 --> 00:48:42,000 Speaker 2: possible situation. If he changes his mind about that permanently, 1030 00:48:42,120 --> 00:48:44,600 Speaker 2: it will be purely because he wants to. It won't 1031 00:48:44,600 --> 00:48:47,480 Speaker 2: be due to any pressure you apply or anything you do. 1032 00:48:47,920 --> 00:48:50,960 Speaker 2: And that is the end of that story. Good comments, Yep, 1033 00:48:51,080 --> 00:48:54,239 Speaker 2: those comments are right. I think it's time. You know, 1034 00:48:54,600 --> 00:48:57,160 Speaker 2: you know, there is the potential he could change, but 1035 00:48:57,239 --> 00:48:59,200 Speaker 2: it's gonna take a lot of work, and clearly he 1036 00:48:59,200 --> 00:49:01,480 Speaker 2: won't be able to do it alone, and he's gonna 1037 00:49:01,520 --> 00:49:04,160 Speaker 2: need he's gonna need therapy. And that's the end of 1038 00:49:04,200 --> 00:49:05,960 Speaker 2: this story. We're gonna go on to the next one. 1039 00:49:06,600 --> 00:49:07,680 Speaker 2: John here og host. 1040 00:49:07,800 --> 00:49:09,480 Speaker 1: We're gonna get back to these stories, but a quick 1041 00:49:09,520 --> 00:49:11,520 Speaker 1: three minute break from as from our sponsors. 1042 00:49:11,800 --> 00:49:15,799 Speaker 5: My husband passed before a divorce was finalized, and now 1043 00:49:15,920 --> 00:49:17,640 Speaker 5: his family is after everything. 1044 00:49:18,080 --> 00:49:19,480 Speaker 2: That's disgusting. 1045 00:49:19,880 --> 00:49:24,080 Speaker 5: This comes directly from the Okay Storytime subreddit too. Buckle up, 1046 00:49:24,160 --> 00:49:27,280 Speaker 5: Okay Storytime family, This is gonna be a long ride. 1047 00:49:27,640 --> 00:49:30,759 Speaker 5: After twenty three years, I forty five female, ended my 1048 00:49:30,840 --> 00:49:33,719 Speaker 5: relationship with my husband, fifty two male. It was not 1049 00:49:33,920 --> 00:49:36,560 Speaker 5: an easy decision to make it first. Looking back, I 1050 00:49:36,680 --> 00:49:39,160 Speaker 5: should have left him way earlier, but I thought things 1051 00:49:39,200 --> 00:49:42,000 Speaker 5: were sunshine, rainbows, long into the storm. 1052 00:49:42,120 --> 00:49:43,200 Speaker 3: By the way, this comes. 1053 00:49:43,040 --> 00:49:46,200 Speaker 5: From insatia og and if you want to submit your 1054 00:49:46,200 --> 00:49:49,080 Speaker 5: own stories, go to the r slash Okay storytime subreddit. 1055 00:49:49,239 --> 00:49:53,240 Speaker 5: I'm Carly, I'm Dakota, and we're here to give good advice. Goofy, 1056 00:49:53,320 --> 00:49:55,239 Speaker 5: but we don't have all the answers really know what 1057 00:49:55,320 --> 00:49:56,640 Speaker 5: we would do, so let us know what you would 1058 00:49:56,640 --> 00:49:59,040 Speaker 5: do in the comment. As op says, to begin with, 1059 00:49:59,400 --> 00:50:02,000 Speaker 5: he had cheap on me with a few spicy workers. 1060 00:50:02,560 --> 00:50:06,200 Speaker 5: One of those encounters endangered my health. When I contracted 1061 00:50:06,239 --> 00:50:09,960 Speaker 5: an STI girl. It ultimately caused me to agree to 1062 00:50:10,040 --> 00:50:12,520 Speaker 5: become polyamorous so that I would know who he was 1063 00:50:12,600 --> 00:50:15,120 Speaker 5: sleeping with. I am by, so it worked for me 1064 00:50:15,239 --> 00:50:17,719 Speaker 5: to be able to date. Of course, I rarely did 1065 00:50:17,920 --> 00:50:20,840 Speaker 5: because his ego is huge. He was a writer and 1066 00:50:21,120 --> 00:50:24,719 Speaker 5: a celebrity in a niche hobby. Fans would cling to 1067 00:50:24,880 --> 00:50:28,880 Speaker 5: his every written word. He had abundant friends. We traveled 1068 00:50:28,920 --> 00:50:31,240 Speaker 5: for the niche hobby all over the place. Life appeared 1069 00:50:31,400 --> 00:50:35,239 Speaker 5: great outside observers. Even I believed things were great. He 1070 00:50:35,360 --> 00:50:38,240 Speaker 5: worked hard at his writing and was developing more content 1071 00:50:38,400 --> 00:50:40,719 Speaker 5: for our hobby than One of his business partners called 1072 00:50:40,800 --> 00:50:45,080 Speaker 5: him out for years of terrible, shady, and sometimes appalling behavior. 1073 00:50:45,320 --> 00:50:48,600 Speaker 5: When I first read the accusations, I literally said, harsh 1074 00:50:48,760 --> 00:50:51,320 Speaker 5: but accurate. I knew that about sixty percent of the 1075 00:50:51,360 --> 00:50:54,560 Speaker 5: accusations were legitimate. When my friends, who remained by my 1076 00:50:54,719 --> 00:50:57,799 Speaker 5: side asked me if he had talked trash about them 1077 00:50:57,840 --> 00:51:00,680 Speaker 5: behind their backs, I didn't lie. I said he talked 1078 00:51:00,680 --> 00:51:04,800 Speaker 5: about everyone my friend. The accusation spread across our hobby. 1079 00:51:05,080 --> 00:51:08,840 Speaker 5: He was canceled almost instantly. We got anonymous threats towards 1080 00:51:08,960 --> 00:51:12,040 Speaker 5: us and our pets by name. I made him pull 1081 00:51:12,040 --> 00:51:14,600 Speaker 5: away from all social media to mitigate the dam it. 1082 00:51:14,840 --> 00:51:17,120 Speaker 5: He wanted to fight back, and I knew he was 1083 00:51:17,239 --> 00:51:20,720 Speaker 5: vindictive and petty and would go full tilt to ruin 1084 00:51:20,800 --> 00:51:23,600 Speaker 5: others to make himself remain relevant. I was afraid he's 1085 00:51:23,600 --> 00:51:26,040 Speaker 5: going to have another stroke if he fought back, and 1086 00:51:26,280 --> 00:51:29,560 Speaker 5: he probably would have. He had had two strokes before 1087 00:51:29,640 --> 00:51:33,920 Speaker 5: fifty and had diabetes. Our circle became extremely small. We 1088 00:51:34,040 --> 00:51:36,200 Speaker 5: had my family and that was it. He did not 1089 00:51:36,400 --> 00:51:39,320 Speaker 5: have any family. His parents were both deceased and he 1090 00:51:39,480 --> 00:51:42,000 Speaker 5: was an only child. I never actually met any of 1091 00:51:42,040 --> 00:51:44,120 Speaker 5: his family in the twenty three years we were together. 1092 00:51:44,480 --> 00:51:47,759 Speaker 5: At Christmas, he then alienated my family by being an 1093 00:51:47,880 --> 00:51:50,600 Speaker 5: outright a hole to my brother in his own home. 1094 00:51:50,800 --> 00:51:53,720 Speaker 5: He kept calling my brother's girlfriend by my former sister 1095 00:51:53,840 --> 00:51:56,880 Speaker 5: in law's name. The cracks in our relationship grew larger. 1096 00:51:57,280 --> 00:51:59,919 Speaker 5: I suggested that we get couple's therapy. I was strong 1097 00:52:00,280 --> 00:52:03,160 Speaker 5: considering leaving him, but we had been together so long 1098 00:52:03,320 --> 00:52:04,480 Speaker 5: and we're truly best friend. 1099 00:52:04,719 --> 00:52:08,839 Speaker 2: No, not the sunk cost fallacy. Yeah, these cracks looked 1100 00:52:08,920 --> 00:52:10,320 Speaker 2: like the grand canyon. 1101 00:52:10,680 --> 00:52:14,719 Speaker 5: I had stuck by him through illnesses, financial infidelity, ups 1102 00:52:14,840 --> 00:52:17,719 Speaker 5: and downs in our careers, and cheating. I thought we 1103 00:52:17,800 --> 00:52:20,560 Speaker 5: would weather this too. We probably would have stayed together 1104 00:52:20,680 --> 00:52:22,800 Speaker 5: if he had not said some startling things to me. 1105 00:52:23,040 --> 00:52:25,319 Speaker 5: He said he did not trust anyone. I asked him 1106 00:52:25,360 --> 00:52:28,360 Speaker 5: if that included not trusting me. He said yes, But 1107 00:52:28,520 --> 00:52:31,640 Speaker 5: I clung on. During one session of therapy, he literally 1108 00:52:31,680 --> 00:52:33,960 Speaker 5: said to our therapist, if she really felt that I 1109 00:52:34,080 --> 00:52:36,040 Speaker 5: was at fault, I would punt her out of the house. 1110 00:52:36,160 --> 00:52:39,200 Speaker 5: The therapist and I sat there stunned. We had maybe 1111 00:52:39,280 --> 00:52:41,200 Speaker 5: five minutes left in our session, so there was no 1112 00:52:41,480 --> 00:52:43,719 Speaker 5: chance to discuss it with help. I asked for another 1113 00:52:43,760 --> 00:52:47,320 Speaker 5: session next week, and he refused. He was adamant that 1114 00:52:47,360 --> 00:52:49,680 Speaker 5: we would not meet again for two weeks, which was 1115 00:52:49,719 --> 00:52:52,440 Speaker 5: our regular schedule. We ended up with an emergency session 1116 00:52:52,600 --> 00:52:56,239 Speaker 5: later that week. He fired the therapists three sessions later 1117 00:52:56,360 --> 00:52:59,160 Speaker 5: and we ended therapy. He started taking the red pill. 1118 00:52:59,280 --> 00:53:02,000 Speaker 5: It was difficult listening to him go from progressive person 1119 00:53:02,120 --> 00:53:05,360 Speaker 5: to a Joe Rogan listener and a men's rights activist 1120 00:53:05,520 --> 00:53:07,480 Speaker 5: who believed cancel culture was wrong. 1121 00:53:07,840 --> 00:53:08,719 Speaker 2: I will not lie. 1122 00:53:08,960 --> 00:53:11,759 Speaker 5: I was miserable. My friends were encouraging me to leave 1123 00:53:11,840 --> 00:53:14,800 Speaker 5: without saying the words directly. I was seeing other people 1124 00:53:14,960 --> 00:53:19,200 Speaker 5: and invested in those relationships, despite his flippant attitude towards 1125 00:53:19,320 --> 00:53:21,960 Speaker 5: those partners. Meanwhile, I was kind and welcoming to his 1126 00:53:22,080 --> 00:53:24,520 Speaker 5: other partners, hoping that we could get back on track. 1127 00:53:24,800 --> 00:53:27,040 Speaker 5: I wanted my best friend back, and I thought we 1128 00:53:27,120 --> 00:53:29,360 Speaker 5: could work it out. It took me another year and 1129 00:53:29,360 --> 00:53:32,160 Speaker 5: a half before I finally came to the realization that 1130 00:53:32,239 --> 00:53:32,759 Speaker 5: I was done. 1131 00:53:33,200 --> 00:53:34,600 Speaker 3: I arrived two hours late to. 1132 00:53:34,600 --> 00:53:36,720 Speaker 5: An event that I had asked him to attend, along 1133 00:53:36,760 --> 00:53:39,520 Speaker 5: with another partner in me. I apologized, and all was 1134 00:53:39,560 --> 00:53:43,000 Speaker 5: forgiven because I acknowledged that I had deprioritized him. I 1135 00:53:43,120 --> 00:53:45,759 Speaker 5: admitted that I needed to stop doing so. I was 1136 00:53:45,880 --> 00:53:47,120 Speaker 5: neglecting our relationship. 1137 00:53:47,320 --> 00:53:49,920 Speaker 2: That is not true, and if you were, it's because 1138 00:53:50,120 --> 00:53:53,080 Speaker 2: I don't know. He much cheated on you, gave you 1139 00:53:53,120 --> 00:53:55,080 Speaker 2: an STI, and the way that you cope with that 1140 00:53:55,320 --> 00:53:59,120 Speaker 2: was becoming open to polyamory, which is not how polyamory works. 1141 00:53:59,520 --> 00:54:01,600 Speaker 2: You were just coping with the fact your partner cheated 1142 00:54:01,640 --> 00:54:01,840 Speaker 2: on you. 1143 00:54:02,120 --> 00:54:04,800 Speaker 5: Then I became the a hole. I had an adult 1144 00:54:04,920 --> 00:54:07,520 Speaker 5: coming bear and got a little bit too honest. I 1145 00:54:07,640 --> 00:54:09,600 Speaker 5: told him the real reason I was so late was 1146 00:54:09,680 --> 00:54:12,240 Speaker 5: because I was having spicy time with a partner earlier 1147 00:54:12,360 --> 00:54:14,959 Speaker 5: that night. Although the partner who was present high five 1148 00:54:15,040 --> 00:54:18,600 Speaker 5: with me, my husband became silent and seethed with anger. 1149 00:54:18,840 --> 00:54:21,680 Speaker 5: He almost left me at the event. I meekly asked, 1150 00:54:21,760 --> 00:54:24,200 Speaker 5: I am taking a ride share home tonight? 1151 00:54:24,280 --> 00:54:24,640 Speaker 3: Am I not? 1152 00:54:24,960 --> 00:54:27,640 Speaker 5: He curtly nodded. My partner had to talk him into 1153 00:54:27,719 --> 00:54:30,399 Speaker 5: not leaving me alone while inebriated. When we got home, 1154 00:54:30,480 --> 00:54:33,400 Speaker 5: we argued into the wee hours of the night, something 1155 00:54:33,480 --> 00:54:35,840 Speaker 5: we had been doing more and more. I acknowledged that 1156 00:54:35,920 --> 00:54:38,879 Speaker 5: I needed to change my behavior to prioritize him more. 1157 00:54:39,200 --> 00:54:41,520 Speaker 5: I had been saying so for a while, but not 1158 00:54:41,640 --> 00:54:44,960 Speaker 5: actually making any changes. That is when I remembered the 1159 00:54:45,440 --> 00:54:48,320 Speaker 5: adage that making a promise to change without doing so 1160 00:54:48,600 --> 00:54:51,960 Speaker 5: is manipulation. I realized I did not like being manipulative. 1161 00:54:52,160 --> 00:54:54,560 Speaker 5: My thoughts raced as I questioned if I was willing 1162 00:54:54,640 --> 00:54:57,320 Speaker 5: to make the change. Then I thought, if I'm asking 1163 00:54:57,440 --> 00:54:59,560 Speaker 5: if I'm willing to change, then I did not actually 1164 00:54:59,600 --> 00:55:02,879 Speaker 5: want to change my priorities. With that realization, I knew 1165 00:55:02,920 --> 00:55:05,480 Speaker 5: we were done. That night, as we argued, I waited 1166 00:55:05,520 --> 00:55:07,279 Speaker 5: for him to be done with me. I asked, how 1167 00:55:07,320 --> 00:55:09,360 Speaker 5: many more times are we going to have this argument? 1168 00:55:09,560 --> 00:55:11,799 Speaker 5: I was resigned that he was going to end things 1169 00:55:11,840 --> 00:55:14,480 Speaker 5: with me. Then I overied up and decided I needed 1170 00:55:14,520 --> 00:55:17,040 Speaker 5: to stop doing things on his terms and started doing 1171 00:55:17,080 --> 00:55:20,160 Speaker 5: them on mine. I told him I was done, not 1172 00:55:20,480 --> 00:55:21,919 Speaker 5: just done with the arguing. 1173 00:55:21,719 --> 00:55:25,480 Speaker 3: But done with our marriage. I did not need him to. 1174 00:55:25,520 --> 00:55:28,160 Speaker 5: Be the decision maker in my life. I needed to 1175 00:55:28,239 --> 00:55:32,200 Speaker 5: take control and say things had been miserable for years. Yes, 1176 00:55:32,640 --> 00:55:35,160 Speaker 5: he focused so much on his writing that he neglected 1177 00:55:35,200 --> 00:55:37,840 Speaker 5: our relationship. It was not until he did not have 1178 00:55:38,120 --> 00:55:41,160 Speaker 5: fans that he turned all of his self absorbed tendencies 1179 00:55:41,280 --> 00:55:44,440 Speaker 5: onto me. Because I was the only one left, I 1180 00:55:44,560 --> 00:55:45,400 Speaker 5: had a trip planned for. 1181 00:55:45,480 --> 00:55:46,080 Speaker 3: Later in the week. 1182 00:55:46,200 --> 00:55:48,360 Speaker 5: While I was alone, I went back and reread the 1183 00:55:48,480 --> 00:55:51,799 Speaker 5: accusations his former business partner had made. I now saw 1184 00:55:52,000 --> 00:55:55,320 Speaker 5: ninety five percent of the behaviors they had described harsh 1185 00:55:55,600 --> 00:55:59,200 Speaker 5: but accurate. Indeed, I knew my decision was the right decision. 1186 00:55:59,360 --> 00:56:01,200 Speaker 5: When I came back my trip, he asked me for 1187 00:56:01,280 --> 00:56:03,640 Speaker 5: a second chance. I told him that I had a 1188 00:56:03,719 --> 00:56:06,400 Speaker 5: therapy session and a phone call with a lawyer that afternoon. 1189 00:56:06,719 --> 00:56:09,440 Speaker 5: I would give him an answer after those things were complete. 1190 00:56:09,600 --> 00:56:11,480 Speaker 5: When I told a friend my husband was asking for 1191 00:56:11,560 --> 00:56:14,160 Speaker 5: a second chance, he laughed and said, is this not 1192 00:56:14,360 --> 00:56:17,160 Speaker 5: like the tenth chance? I knew he was right. I 1193 00:56:17,239 --> 00:56:19,400 Speaker 5: told the therapist what my friend had said, and the 1194 00:56:19,480 --> 00:56:21,880 Speaker 5: therapist said the words I needed to hear. Tell me 1195 00:56:21,960 --> 00:56:24,840 Speaker 5: about those other nine chances. As I recounted them, I 1196 00:56:25,000 --> 00:56:28,239 Speaker 5: realized how disrespected I had been Over the years. There 1197 00:56:28,320 --> 00:56:33,400 Speaker 5: had been cheating, lies, financial infidelity, legal issues, emotional neglect, 1198 00:56:33,920 --> 00:56:37,600 Speaker 5: and so much more. I was resolute I was done 1199 00:56:37,760 --> 00:56:40,520 Speaker 5: and there would not be any more chances. I did 1200 00:56:40,600 --> 00:56:43,080 Speaker 5: not hate him. I just did not love him or 1201 00:56:43,200 --> 00:56:45,560 Speaker 5: consider him someone I would now be friends with. But 1202 00:56:45,640 --> 00:56:47,920 Speaker 5: I still cared for him. He was someone who I 1203 00:56:48,040 --> 00:56:50,680 Speaker 5: had been through so many wonderful times, as well as 1204 00:56:50,800 --> 00:56:53,759 Speaker 5: trials and tribulations that led to the decision to file 1205 00:56:53,840 --> 00:56:57,080 Speaker 5: for a legal separation instead of a divorce. There were 1206 00:56:57,160 --> 00:56:59,800 Speaker 5: a few distinctions between them, allowing ME to remain a 1207 00:56:59,840 --> 00:57:03,000 Speaker 5: medical decision maker, among other things. He had no family 1208 00:57:03,080 --> 00:57:05,520 Speaker 5: and no friends who he trusted to make those decisions 1209 00:57:05,600 --> 00:57:08,000 Speaker 5: for him. I was the last person he had and 1210 00:57:08,080 --> 00:57:11,080 Speaker 5: I had called it quits. Our separation was quite amicable. 1211 00:57:11,400 --> 00:57:13,879 Speaker 5: We lived together for a year after I ended things. 1212 00:57:14,040 --> 00:57:16,840 Speaker 5: While our separation was finalized, we agreed on how to 1213 00:57:16,880 --> 00:57:19,680 Speaker 5: split everything, right down to who would get ownership of 1214 00:57:19,760 --> 00:57:21,600 Speaker 5: the dogs and how we would make sure that the 1215 00:57:21,680 --> 00:57:24,000 Speaker 5: house was not lost. After all, we had bought the 1216 00:57:24,080 --> 00:57:26,520 Speaker 5: house for the dogs. I came up with the solution 1217 00:57:26,680 --> 00:57:29,000 Speaker 5: so that he could keep the house, pay me off 1218 00:57:29,120 --> 00:57:32,120 Speaker 5: slowly for half the equity over ten years if he 1219 00:57:32,240 --> 00:57:34,440 Speaker 5: passed away. Before he could pay me the full equity, 1220 00:57:34,560 --> 00:57:37,760 Speaker 5: I would inherit the whole house. I made a morbid gamble, 1221 00:57:37,960 --> 00:57:40,760 Speaker 5: knowing he mismanaged his diabetes and would likely have a 1222 00:57:40,840 --> 00:57:43,080 Speaker 5: third stroke. We both knew that this was very likely 1223 00:57:43,200 --> 00:57:46,160 Speaker 5: unless he made drastic life changes, but we both agreed 1224 00:57:46,240 --> 00:57:47,960 Speaker 5: to it. He had to write up a will to 1225 00:57:48,040 --> 00:57:50,800 Speaker 5: make it legal. My lawyer had insisted on it as 1226 00:57:50,840 --> 00:57:52,360 Speaker 5: a part of the separation agreement. 1227 00:57:52,880 --> 00:57:54,080 Speaker 3: I moved on and out. 1228 00:57:54,240 --> 00:57:56,280 Speaker 5: I made sure to visit the dogs on occasion and 1229 00:57:56,520 --> 00:57:58,800 Speaker 5: asked for frequent photos of the dogs. I broke my 1230 00:57:58,960 --> 00:58:01,480 Speaker 5: foot falling down the stage and had to pause visits. 1231 00:58:01,600 --> 00:58:03,600 Speaker 5: When I was able to visit again, I could see 1232 00:58:03,760 --> 00:58:06,640 Speaker 5: he was not doing well. He looked unkempt and haggard. 1233 00:58:06,800 --> 00:58:08,920 Speaker 5: Even the dogs seemed like some of their care was 1234 00:58:09,040 --> 00:58:11,640 Speaker 5: not being attended to with speed. It made me angry, 1235 00:58:12,040 --> 00:58:14,160 Speaker 5: but the dogs were the only ones who loved him, 1236 00:58:14,240 --> 00:58:17,360 Speaker 5: despite his grouchy, hermit like behavior. The last time I 1237 00:58:17,400 --> 00:58:19,560 Speaker 5: saw him, I asked him if he had an emergency 1238 00:58:19,640 --> 00:58:22,960 Speaker 5: contact and medical decision maker. He said yes, so I 1239 00:58:23,000 --> 00:58:24,760 Speaker 5: told him I was going to file to convert our 1240 00:58:24,800 --> 00:58:28,720 Speaker 5: separation into a full divorce. He nodded, and agreed. Once 1241 00:58:28,760 --> 00:58:31,920 Speaker 5: I filed the paperwork, it would be finally finalized in 1242 00:58:32,040 --> 00:58:34,680 Speaker 5: thirty days. The only account we still had together was 1243 00:58:34,720 --> 00:58:37,520 Speaker 5: the house, and I would eventually inherit it per his will. 1244 00:58:37,800 --> 00:58:40,640 Speaker 5: Twenty nine days later, I got on the train to 1245 00:58:40,680 --> 00:58:42,720 Speaker 5: head home from work. I looked at my phone and 1246 00:58:42,840 --> 00:58:45,040 Speaker 5: noticed a voice message from one of his old friends 1247 00:58:45,160 --> 00:58:47,640 Speaker 5: that he had rekindled a friendship with. I read the 1248 00:58:47,680 --> 00:58:49,600 Speaker 5: summary of the voicemail. This is Chris. 1249 00:58:49,800 --> 00:58:51,320 Speaker 3: I need you to give me a call right away. 1250 00:58:51,480 --> 00:58:55,240 Speaker 5: It's super important. Your husband is basically passed away. I 1251 00:58:55,360 --> 00:58:56,840 Speaker 5: stopped reading and called. 1252 00:58:56,600 --> 00:58:57,200 Speaker 3: Them right back. 1253 00:58:57,400 --> 00:58:59,680 Speaker 5: I expected his friend to tell me what hospital he 1254 00:58:59,760 --> 00:59:01,640 Speaker 5: was in. I would rush over there after I got 1255 00:59:01,680 --> 00:59:04,400 Speaker 5: off the train. Instead, I spoke to a very somber 1256 00:59:04,480 --> 00:59:07,920 Speaker 5: person telling me that they found my former husband deceased. 1257 00:59:08,360 --> 00:59:11,520 Speaker 5: Authorities were just arriving. The best way to describe how 1258 00:59:11,560 --> 00:59:14,280 Speaker 5: I felt was rattled. I had never gotten news like 1259 00:59:14,360 --> 00:59:17,560 Speaker 5: this before. I've had very few people who are close 1260 00:59:17,640 --> 00:59:20,520 Speaker 5: to me pass on. It felt so sudden. I knew 1261 00:59:20,560 --> 00:59:22,840 Speaker 5: that he would pass away, I just didn't expect it 1262 00:59:22,960 --> 00:59:25,720 Speaker 5: this soon. It didn't seem real. Once I was over 1263 00:59:25,800 --> 00:59:27,680 Speaker 5: the initial shock, I asked about my dog. 1264 00:59:27,880 --> 00:59:28,479 Speaker 3: They had been. 1265 00:59:28,400 --> 00:59:31,360 Speaker 5: Alone for about three days. The police told me they 1266 00:59:31,400 --> 00:59:33,600 Speaker 5: were going to call animal control. I told them I 1267 00:59:33,720 --> 00:59:35,920 Speaker 5: was only eight minutes away. When I got them, they 1268 00:59:36,000 --> 00:59:38,760 Speaker 5: looked scared. One of them is deaf and mostly blind. 1269 00:59:39,000 --> 00:59:41,680 Speaker 5: He can't really jump out of bed. The other had 1270 00:59:41,680 --> 00:59:44,640 Speaker 5: been rummaging around the house looking for food. I shudder 1271 00:59:44,720 --> 00:59:46,720 Speaker 5: to think about what they went through. I let them 1272 00:59:46,760 --> 00:59:49,400 Speaker 5: lick my face and sniff me. I was glad they 1273 00:59:49,440 --> 00:59:52,240 Speaker 5: were okay and safe with me. Now, So where did 1274 00:59:52,320 --> 00:59:54,720 Speaker 5: that leave me? With a mess of a place to 1275 00:59:54,760 --> 00:59:57,000 Speaker 5: clean up, items to go through, and a house that 1276 00:59:57,160 --> 00:59:59,600 Speaker 5: was now mine? My friends rallied around me and came 1277 00:59:59,640 --> 01:00:01,200 Speaker 5: to do the wor work that I just couldn't do. 1278 01:00:01,280 --> 01:00:03,439 Speaker 5: In the moment, I felt very supported in love. 1279 01:00:03,560 --> 01:00:06,880 Speaker 2: That is very very good to hear. I'm so glad 1280 01:00:06,960 --> 01:00:09,520 Speaker 2: that you had friends in a support system around you, 1281 01:00:09,880 --> 01:00:13,000 Speaker 2: because this is a lot to digest and comprehend. 1282 01:00:13,160 --> 01:00:16,040 Speaker 5: We laughed, told stories, drank and smoked some of the 1283 01:00:16,080 --> 01:00:20,480 Speaker 5: Devil's lettuce. Life felt good. Then problems started. I started 1284 01:00:20,520 --> 01:00:22,960 Speaker 5: looking for the will. At one point he had mentioned 1285 01:00:23,000 --> 01:00:25,040 Speaker 5: that one of his friends would be getting some very 1286 01:00:25,160 --> 01:00:27,680 Speaker 5: expensive comics. I wanted to make sure that before I 1287 01:00:27,800 --> 01:00:30,840 Speaker 5: sold anything to start paying for bills. He hadn't put 1288 01:00:30,880 --> 01:00:34,000 Speaker 5: that in writing. I searched my online documents and his 1289 01:00:34,080 --> 01:00:36,840 Speaker 5: physical documents. I couldn't find it. I called up my 1290 01:00:36,880 --> 01:00:39,280 Speaker 5: separation attorney to see if she had the will. She 1291 01:00:39,400 --> 01:00:41,160 Speaker 5: told me they didn't have it, but gave me the 1292 01:00:41,240 --> 01:00:43,520 Speaker 5: name of the attorney he told them he used for 1293 01:00:43,640 --> 01:00:46,360 Speaker 5: writing the will. I called that attorney and they didn't 1294 01:00:46,400 --> 01:00:49,120 Speaker 5: have any record of him as a client. I checked 1295 01:00:49,200 --> 01:00:52,680 Speaker 5: the county's will repository and there still wasn't anything. 1296 01:00:53,280 --> 01:00:54,959 Speaker 3: There wasn't a will. 1297 01:00:55,240 --> 01:00:57,680 Speaker 5: To make matters worse, and aunt that he had reconnected 1298 01:00:57,720 --> 01:01:01,000 Speaker 5: with called my attorney to see if we were really divorced. 1299 01:01:01,240 --> 01:01:04,920 Speaker 5: Because it is publicly available information that we legally separated. 1300 01:01:05,040 --> 01:01:07,840 Speaker 5: They let her know that status. My attorney contacted me 1301 01:01:07,960 --> 01:01:11,040 Speaker 5: almost immediately to essentially tell me the lawyer up within 1302 01:01:11,120 --> 01:01:15,080 Speaker 5: a state attorney, I had already started contacting them. So far, 1303 01:01:15,280 --> 01:01:18,800 Speaker 5: I've been told that because we were legally separated, not divorced, 1304 01:01:18,960 --> 01:01:22,440 Speaker 5: I'm in legal limbo. A legal spouse would have simply 1305 01:01:22,520 --> 01:01:24,840 Speaker 5: inherited everything. I'm just angry at. 1306 01:01:24,720 --> 01:01:25,440 Speaker 3: The whole situation. 1307 01:01:25,880 --> 01:01:28,760 Speaker 5: A will was supposed to be written before our separation 1308 01:01:28,960 --> 01:01:32,000 Speaker 5: was finalized. I did my part by being reasonable, and 1309 01:01:32,120 --> 01:01:34,400 Speaker 5: he didn't do his part by writing a will. It 1310 01:01:34,640 --> 01:01:37,000 Speaker 5: never happened, and now I'm having to pay for a 1311 01:01:37,120 --> 01:01:40,280 Speaker 5: lawyer to keep my house and everything we worked so 1312 01:01:40,520 --> 01:01:43,520 Speaker 5: hard on building up over twenty three years keep it 1313 01:01:43,560 --> 01:01:45,600 Speaker 5: from going to an aunt that I've never met and 1314 01:01:45,720 --> 01:01:48,880 Speaker 5: that he only reconnected with in the last couple of years. 1315 01:01:49,120 --> 01:01:51,120 Speaker 5: I don't have the pin codes for his phone or 1316 01:01:51,200 --> 01:01:54,240 Speaker 5: the passwords to his computers. Thankfully, he never changed the 1317 01:01:54,280 --> 01:01:56,560 Speaker 5: pin on his tablet, so I started getting into some 1318 01:01:56,680 --> 01:01:59,520 Speaker 5: of his accounts online, but many of the apps wanted 1319 01:01:59,560 --> 01:02:02,160 Speaker 5: text towed to his phone that I can't access. I 1320 01:02:02,280 --> 01:02:06,000 Speaker 5: tried making myself a legacy contact, but because it was 1321 01:02:06,160 --> 01:02:10,240 Speaker 5: initiated after he passed away, it means fruity, no responsor. 1322 01:02:10,400 --> 01:02:13,040 Speaker 5: It means the phone company wouldn't give. 1323 01:02:12,920 --> 01:02:15,040 Speaker 3: Me access, even after I gave them. 1324 01:02:15,080 --> 01:02:18,400 Speaker 5: The posthumous certificate. Yesterday, I got an email from a 1325 01:02:18,440 --> 01:02:21,040 Speaker 5: service that I didn't use much, but that my former 1326 01:02:21,280 --> 01:02:24,240 Speaker 5: former husband used to share documents with me for editing, 1327 01:02:24,480 --> 01:02:27,640 Speaker 5: finances and photos. I was able to get into his 1328 01:02:27,680 --> 01:02:31,200 Speaker 5: account on the tablet. There was a file called last 1329 01:02:31,360 --> 01:02:32,800 Speaker 5: Will and Testament we're there. 1330 01:02:33,160 --> 01:02:34,000 Speaker 2: I guess I. 1331 01:02:34,080 --> 01:02:36,760 Speaker 5: Looked it over in a detailed everything we had agreed upon. 1332 01:02:37,400 --> 01:02:40,320 Speaker 5: I was named the executor. His friend would get his 1333 01:02:40,440 --> 01:02:42,560 Speaker 5: collectibles and I would get the whole house. 1334 01:02:42,720 --> 01:02:43,440 Speaker 3: A new catch. 1335 01:02:43,640 --> 01:02:46,600 Speaker 5: He didn't sign it. I presented it to my state attorney, 1336 01:02:46,680 --> 01:02:49,160 Speaker 5: but state law says it isn't legally binding, but it 1337 01:02:49,240 --> 01:02:51,520 Speaker 5: could be considered. So now I feel hopeful, but so 1338 01:02:51,680 --> 01:02:53,840 Speaker 5: afraid that it's not going to get held up in court, 1339 01:02:54,000 --> 01:02:56,280 Speaker 5: and his aunt will be the one to get everything, 1340 01:02:56,520 --> 01:02:58,760 Speaker 5: and I'm still so angry at him and he's not 1341 01:02:58,920 --> 01:03:01,560 Speaker 5: even here to correct the problem. Thanks for letting me 1342 01:03:01,640 --> 01:03:04,240 Speaker 5: share my story. If anyone has been in a situation 1343 01:03:04,400 --> 01:03:07,280 Speaker 5: with an unsigned will and how it held up legally, 1344 01:03:07,360 --> 01:03:10,120 Speaker 5: I'd love to hear your advice. This whole situation has 1345 01:03:10,240 --> 01:03:11,400 Speaker 5: been frustrating. 1346 01:03:11,640 --> 01:03:14,320 Speaker 2: And tell me about the end of that story. Tell 1347 01:03:14,360 --> 01:03:18,280 Speaker 2: me about it in Seytha, get me. I mean you gotta. 1348 01:03:18,400 --> 01:03:22,320 Speaker 2: I gotta assume that a document on his tablet that 1349 01:03:22,880 --> 01:03:24,840 Speaker 2: and you know now they're gonna say, well, could you 1350 01:03:25,000 --> 01:03:27,720 Speaker 2: have gone in there and documented you know, God. 1351 01:03:27,640 --> 01:03:29,880 Speaker 5: In there there's gonna be metadata on it about when. 1352 01:03:29,800 --> 01:03:34,720 Speaker 2: It so I don't know. Hopefully I think it would 1353 01:03:34,720 --> 01:03:37,840 Speaker 2: have been wise to maybe not touch anything and just 1354 01:03:38,000 --> 01:03:41,920 Speaker 2: have only attorneys like deal with it in you know, documented, 1355 01:03:42,040 --> 01:03:44,560 Speaker 2: proper whatever, and that's the end of this story.