1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: Hey, this is aam. This is John, your og Okay 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:06,200 Speaker 1: Storytime podcast host, and we got some delicious, juicy stories 3 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: coming up. 4 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:08,960 Speaker 2: But if you want to hear that deliciousness, you know, 5 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 2: just stick around for a two minute break with a 6 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 2: word from our sponsors. 7 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:16,119 Speaker 3: My husband abandoned me for his ex and now he 8 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:17,279 Speaker 3: wants my property. 9 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:18,319 Speaker 2: You don't get that. 10 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 3: So I am thirty five female and my husband is 11 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 3: thirty nine male. We have been married for five years. 12 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 3: Before marrying me, he was with his high school sweetheart 13 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:33,599 Speaker 3: for a decade. Apparently they had compatibility issues and then 14 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 3: lost contact. Now his ex has kidney failure and is 15 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 3: on dialysis and has come to our city for treatment, 16 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 3: and according to my husband, she contacted him through a 17 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,559 Speaker 3: mutual friend. By the way, this comes from am I 18 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 3: being weird? And if you want to see make your 19 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 3: own stories, go to the r slash okay storytime subreddit. 20 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 3: I'm Carly, I'm Angie, and we're here to give good advice. Goofily, 21 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 3: But we don't have all the answers. We only know 22 00:00:58,040 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 3: what we would do, so let us know what you 23 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 3: would do the comments. As Opie says, now, my husband 24 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:06,399 Speaker 3: wants to help her very politely, I asked my husband, 25 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 3: does she not have her own people that can help 26 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 3: and nurse her? Why contact him all of a sudden 27 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 3: after years. My husband was pissed and said how could 28 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 3: I be so petty and immature regarding a patient asking 29 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 3: such stupid questions, and that he expected better from me. 30 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:25,399 Speaker 3: Then I said, if the situation is so dire, then 31 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:28,680 Speaker 3: let's get her a place in our flat in another locality. 32 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 3: And if he was so adamant, then let's finance her 33 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:36,319 Speaker 3: nursing facility. What is the need to get personally involved 34 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 3: like a nurse, I said, I do not want to 35 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 3: get involved in personally nursing his ex or in her 36 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 3: medical recovery process, nor do I want to go see 37 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 3: her in the hospital with him. My husband said he 38 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 3: was just disappointed in me, that I was showing jealousy 39 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 3: over a long ended relationship and could not show maturity 40 00:01:56,720 --> 00:01:59,559 Speaker 3: even with a patient. So am I the a hole? 41 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 3: And we do have an update. I tried to have 42 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 3: another conversation with my husband and my parents are soon 43 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 3: visiting my house, but I don't think we've made any progress. 44 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 3: I talked pretty politely that it is very unfair to 45 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 3: me and my boys, I have two three year old twins, 46 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 3: that he is willing to be an emotional support tool 47 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 3: to an ex and is so heck been on being 48 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 3: at her side. Caring about acquaintances is a different thing, 49 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 3: but offering things like being an emotional support tool or 50 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 3: a caretaker should be exclusive to one's spouse. Offering it 51 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 3: to any third party, even if it's a platonic female friend, 52 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 3: will be the foundation of an emotional affair, let alone 53 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 3: offering it to an ex. You're a little insecure now. 54 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 3: He told me that it is tragic that I don't 55 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 3: trust him even after being together for nine years. We 56 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 3: dated for four years and have been married for five, 57 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 3: and accused me of having an affair. He said it 58 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 3: is natural for people to care about their loved ones 59 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 3: and acquaintances, especially when they are sick, and being an 60 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 3: emotional support tool, being a caretaker, or being at someone's 61 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,839 Speaker 3: side is the bare minimum one can do and does 62 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 3: not automatically translate into an emotional affair. He said, it 63 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:13,919 Speaker 3: is sad that I am so narrow minded that I 64 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 3: am taking offense at him being personally involved with his ex. Ideally, 65 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 3: he said, I should have volunteered to help his ex 66 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 3: visited her, consoled her, and shown some empathy instead of 67 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 3: being an insecure person. I said, I'm not negating the 68 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 3: fact that we should help a sick person, and we 69 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 3: get nurses and doctors involved and assist financially, but you 70 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 3: offering emotional intimacy to her does not go down my throat. 71 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 3: He once again said, tossing just money to a sick 72 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 3: person is so cold hearted on your part, and a 73 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 3: patient needs to see that people are available for her, 74 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 3: to which I said, I'm not obliged to be available 75 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 3: for her, nor are you. Nobody will blame you for 76 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 3: not taking responsibility for your ex's life troubles. He cut 77 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 3: me in between and said what a selfish take that was, 78 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 3: and that he would be selfish to not respond properly 79 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 3: to a person asking for help. Then one of my 80 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 3: twins woke up and our conversation ended. We have an 81 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 3: update too. A lot has happened and I feel kind 82 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 3: of numb and dumb. So, as most of you expected, 83 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 3: my husband and I are getting divorced. What I was 84 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 3: not expecting that, Yeah, his ex, who has kidney failure 85 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 3: and his on dialysis, did not reach out only because 86 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,239 Speaker 3: she needed help. She reached out because she wanted him back. 87 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 3: Her illness is real, but her intentions were not. She 88 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 3: eventually admitted that to me directly, and she was quite 89 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:37,040 Speaker 3: blatant in this regard. Maybe her illness has made her 90 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 3: irritable and scornful, but that is how it was. Right now, 91 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,599 Speaker 3: I feel strangely calm. It is not unexpected, but I 92 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,479 Speaker 3: am still unable to process that a man can leave 93 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 3: a relationship of a decade with two kids. We dated 94 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 3: for four years, have been married for five, and have 95 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 3: two twins who are three years old, like this, with 96 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 3: a zero visible regret. My parents are with me, helping 97 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 3: me stay steady for my twin boys, who just turned three. 98 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 3: They are too young to understand what is happening, but 99 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 3: they keep me grounded. After everything came to light, my 100 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 3: husband admitted that she was the one who ended their 101 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,559 Speaker 3: relationship years ago because she thought he lacked a drive 102 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 3: and stability. He never really got over her. Seeing her again, fragile, 103 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 3: vulnerable and remorseful reopened old feelings he had never dealt with, 104 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 3: And in my mind, I was like, knucklehead, you could 105 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 3: have admitted it from day one instead of gaslighting me. 106 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 3: But I guess I was just speechless there. I actually 107 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 3: met her by coincidence. Three days ago. My husband had 108 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 3: been visiting the hospital frequently, and one afternoon he forgot 109 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 3: his insurance file, which also contained some of our joint 110 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 3: investment papers. Since I was disentangling things from him in 111 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:49,839 Speaker 3: the background while waiting for my parents to come and 112 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 3: give my marriage a last chance, I had gone to 113 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:56,160 Speaker 3: collect it from the administrative office at the dialysis unit. 114 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 3: The dialysis unit was tucked in a quieter wing separated 115 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 3: from the outpatient block. Outside the renal chamber, the waiting 116 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 3: area was attached. I was standing there waiting for the 117 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:10,039 Speaker 3: administrative officer to bring out the insurance file when she 118 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 3: appeared with a nurse. She recognized me right away, and 119 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 3: before I could even introduce myself, she told the nurse 120 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 3: to give us room for a moment. The nurse was 121 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:23,480 Speaker 3: hesitant to leave an immunocompromised person, but she insisted on 122 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 3: a couple of minutes of privacy. Then she asked me, 123 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 3: you are husband's name wife, right. I swear to God 124 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 3: I had not met this woman once, so I don't 125 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 3: know how she recognized me in a glance. I said yeah, 126 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:38,479 Speaker 3: and she asked me to sit down for a moment. 127 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 3: Then she said, I was planning to bring this up 128 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 3: gradually to you, but it's better we met here, I 129 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 3: guess today or tomorrow. You have to know this. There 130 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 3: isn't any use going around the bush, so I will 131 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 3: come straight to the point. I know you probably think 132 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:56,159 Speaker 3: I'm intruding, but I never stopped loving him. I was like, 133 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 3: what the actual f No way this is real. In reality, 134 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 3: she was married to another man for a while, who 135 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 3: I guess passed in some accident, so it is not 136 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 3: like she was some cinematic protagonist spending her life singly 137 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 3: pining for my knucklehead of a husband as she was sounding. 138 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 3: I was the one who ended things, and I regret 139 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 3: it deeply. I just want to be with him again, 140 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 3: even if it's only for whatever time I have left. 141 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 3: I swear to Almighty sitting above seven heavens. I am 142 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 3: not exaggerating a single word. These were her exact words. 143 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 3: I left the file counter without saying anything. In the 144 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 3: side corridor near the elevator lobby, I would have burst 145 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 3: into violent sobs had nurses and other people not been 146 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 3: moving there too. When I got home and told my 147 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 3: husband what had happened. He did not deny it. He 148 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 3: said he could not help how he felt, and that 149 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 3: being around her made him realize he still loved her. 150 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 3: At this point, I did not think I had anything 151 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 3: else to say. I am now a single mother of 152 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 3: twin boys, and honestly I am fine. I earn much 153 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 3: more than my husband, and the house wheel is entirely 154 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 3: my property. The apartment is in the Southern Academic District, 155 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 3: not far from the old university campus where I teach. 156 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,239 Speaker 3: It is a three bedroom flat on the fourth floor 157 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 3: of a quiet residential block. I bought it seven years 158 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 3: ago when I was promoted to associate professor, using my 159 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 3: savings and part of a research grant I had received 160 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 3: for curriculum development. When this all came to light, I 161 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 3: asked him to leave, and he did. It was not 162 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 3: a dramatic fight. I told him calmly that if his 163 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 3: heart was to go with her, that is where he 164 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 3: should go. There is no legal obstacle in it. He 165 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 3: had contributed little to the mortgage or maintenance, and the 166 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 3: property was always mine. He did try to bring up 167 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 3: that we are intertwined on other financial fronts, and honestly, 168 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 3: even if it is partial entanglement. What complicates things now 169 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 3: are the shared investments and educational funds we set up 170 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 3: for a twin boys. Well, Opie's got such better radar 171 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 3: then I would have ever had. 172 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:58,040 Speaker 1: For real, so good. 173 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 2: Like, I mean, I guess I'm still probably would have 174 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 2: gone without the like just name calling and stuff. Yeah, 175 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:08,200 Speaker 2: I guess titles being thrown out there of like emotional affair. Yeah, 176 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:09,880 Speaker 2: but I mean, oh, she was right. 177 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:13,319 Speaker 3: Yeah, sure certainly also would have been on my guard, 178 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 3: but she was way more ready for this. 179 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:16,439 Speaker 1: Yeah. 180 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 3: It makes me wonder too if like other things were 181 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:19,720 Speaker 3: just already going wrong. 182 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 4: Yeah, that she was like curious, Yeah yeah, because she like, I. 183 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,959 Speaker 2: Don't know, you're just a poor victim cut in the 184 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 2: middle of all of this rama here. You're just like 185 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 2: that that other woman in a in a rom com. 186 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:35,720 Speaker 3: Classic rom com. 187 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 2: Unfortunately. Yeah, so sad, so sad. 188 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 3: We have a little bit left. We have a joint 189 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 3: mutual fund account, a children's saving bond, and a small 190 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 3: commercial investment in a co working space near the railway junction. 191 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 3: The co working space investment is another area of dispute. 192 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 3: Although the capital came from me, The business registration lists 193 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 3: both our names for tax convenience, which was his idea. 194 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 3: Only now he is attempting to claim half the profits 195 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 3: from the currently cycle. My lawyer has filed for a 196 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 3: forensic accounting review to prove the monetary trail originates from 197 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 3: my personal savings. This is looking exhausting in theory only. 198 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 3: And there are a few more entanglements that will be 199 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:19,320 Speaker 3: too much to type. And not to forget the legal 200 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 3: proceedings of divorce, which we have not started yet, and 201 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 3: not to forget custody stuff. And that is the end 202 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 3: of that story. 203 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:30,680 Speaker 2: My husband demanded that I forget my late husband, so 204 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 2: I decided to leave. 205 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, good for you. 206 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 2: My thirty five female first husband, John passed away very 207 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 2: suddenly six years ago. We were together for eight years 208 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 2: and happily married for four. We never had children. Three 209 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 2: years after he passed away, I met my current husband, 210 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 2: Ned and we hit it off immediately. By the way, 211 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:52,839 Speaker 2: this comes from Throwaway nine five six two three five seven, 212 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 2: And if you want to submit your own stories, go 213 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 2: to the hour slash Okay storytime Separated and I'm Angie, 214 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,679 Speaker 2: I'm Carlyn, and we're here to give good advice. Goofully. 215 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 2: We'll have all the answers, we just know what we 216 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 2: would do in this situation, so let us know what 217 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 2: you would do in the comments. So ope, He says. 218 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:07,720 Speaker 2: We got married last year and everything has been great, 219 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 2: save for one recurring argument. Ned hates that I still 220 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 2: have sentimental items for my first marriage. I've tried to 221 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 2: be sensitive to his feelings because I don't want him 222 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 2: to think that I just settled for him because John 223 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,440 Speaker 2: passed away. I don't want to make him feel like 224 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 2: I want him to compete, or that I'm measuring his 225 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 2: worth using John as a yardstick. Ever since the first 226 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 2: time he expressed his discomfort with this, I do not 227 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 2: bring John up around him, and I keep the things 228 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 2: out of sight. I keep my wedding photos, other photos, 229 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 2: wedding tape, home videos, gifts from John, and his old 230 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 2: record collection in two large chests and basement. The rest 231 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 2: of his things I gave away to his brother and nephews. 232 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:49,200 Speaker 2: I have looked at them maybe thrice in the last 233 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 2: two years, and usually at his family's requests. I don't 234 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 2: want to throw them out or give them away, because 235 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:57,679 Speaker 2: they signify an important part of my life. Even if 236 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:00,839 Speaker 2: I'm in love with another man now, I'm still very 237 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 2: close with John's family. Every year, on John's birthday, we 238 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 2: have a family reunion where we remember him. We eat, drink, 239 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:11,559 Speaker 2: tell funny stories, lave and his most unflattering photos, watch 240 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 2: home videos, including mine, play his favorite songs, and generally 241 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 2: have a good time. It hasn't been a sad affair 242 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 2: for at least three years now. John's family is very 243 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 2: welcoming and have expressed interest in meeting net. He declined 244 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 2: because he felt uncomfortable. I understand why, but they are 245 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 2: also my family. He doesn't want to attend family events 246 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 2: like the reunion, birthdays, or weddings, and I never force him, 247 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 2: even though it does hurt my feelings that he wants 248 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 2: to shut out my whole family. Yesterday, he found some 249 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 2: old books of John's that I had forgotten to remove 250 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 2: from our library and accused me of leaving them there 251 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 2: to spite him instead of putting them in the basement, 252 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 2: so that I don't love him, and that he knows 253 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 2: that I wish John was still alive. I told him 254 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:50,960 Speaker 2: that I do love him, and that he was being 255 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:53,840 Speaker 2: unfair because I can't very well say I'm glad he's 256 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 2: passed away. He told me that if I want to 257 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 2: prove that I love him. I should throw out all 258 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 2: my mementos because John and I I've never had kids 259 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 2: to pass them on to, and that I can go 260 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 2: to family things except the birthday celebration. I have tried 261 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 2: to explain that I can't simply forget eight years of 262 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 2: my life, and that it's unfair for him to expect 263 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 2: me to say that I'm glad that I was widowed, 264 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 2: but he refuses to speak to me until they do 265 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 2: what he wants. My God, I'm extremely hurt, and I 266 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 2: feel like I'm not being unreasonable. But now I'm wondering 267 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 2: if maybe I am the A hole. He wants me 268 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 2: to throw out all the items, but I don't. Am 269 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 2: I the A hole? And there are some comments delete it, 270 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:35,199 Speaker 2: says Divo RCEE. He is being manipulative, bordering on gaslighting. 271 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 2: If I have the term right, run this is so 272 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 2: beyond wrong. 273 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 4: Not the A hole, Giant, not the A hole, Opie says. 274 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 2: I can understand how this all screams red flags, and 275 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 2: it will probably make me sound super naive if I 276 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 2: try to defend this behavior by emphasizing his gentler traits, 277 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 2: So I won't. I just want to try to fix 278 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:55,439 Speaker 2: it first. As all, I'll definitely have to ask myself 279 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 2: if I'm okay with giving in for his sake or 280 00:13:57,400 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 2: consider divorce if he refuses to compromise or go to 281 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 2: couple's therapy. I hope this doesn't make me come across 282 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 2: as weak, because I just want to give us a 283 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 2: fair shot at being happy together. Thank you for your perspective. Nonetheless, 284 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:12,319 Speaker 2: another commentary says, not the a hole. Oh, for f's sake, 285 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 2: I'm in Ned's position. My wife was married before her 286 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 2: husband passed away four years later. I met her. Two 287 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 2: years after that, we were married. Some guy my age 288 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 2: is no longer in the world, and that's how I 289 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 2: got to be married. For me to be jealous of 290 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 2: a passed away guy would be pathetic as well as pointless. 291 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 2: It's not like he's competing with me for her affection. 292 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:37,200 Speaker 2: Ned is a peepyhead, and Opie says, thank you so 293 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 2: much for this. I was genuinely beginning to feel like 294 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 2: there was something that I wasn't getting and I'm so 295 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 2: tired of explaining the same thing over and over again. 296 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:47,160 Speaker 2: I've told him that exact thing, that I'm not comparing 297 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 2: them or making him compete with a passed away man, 298 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 2: and I don't know how else to explain this to him. 299 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 2: Flow Prag says, not the a hole. Please do not 300 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 2: give it into his demands and throw away your memories. 301 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 2: You'll regret it immensely. Opie says, I'm so sure I'll 302 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 2: regret it if I do. I'm now thinking of maybe 303 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 2: taking the chests down to John's parents' house and storing 304 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 2: them there. I know they would be willing to take 305 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 2: care of them for me. I just don't want to 306 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 2: look like a pushover if I've not done anything wrong. 307 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 2: And I'm starting to feel like I'm the only one 308 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 2: making compromises because you are. You definitely are. And we 309 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 2: do have an update from the next day. 310 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 3: God, get rid of this man totally. 311 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 2: It's such a controlling move, like the fact that, like 312 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 2: if this was something that was your choice of like, Okay, 313 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 2: this is how I'm gonna move on raway this stuff. 314 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 2: I'm gonna distance myself from those family events. Sure, sure, 315 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 2: but you like having to explain to his to John's 316 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 2: family of being like, no, I can't do this because 317 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 2: my husband doesn't want me to. 318 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 3: Being forced. 319 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 2: You're being forced, ridiculous it's absolutely not your choice. And 320 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 2: then someday, if Ned decides to leave you for some reason, 321 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 2: then you're gonna You're gonna be left with this semess 322 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 2: that he's me. But we do have an update the 323 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 2: next day. I never thought he would try I had 324 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 2: to tamper with my things, but I also didn't think 325 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 2: he would ever behave like this when I married him. 326 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 2: I would like to clear up a few things first. 327 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 2: I've had a few hostile comments and dms saying that 328 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 2: I've been trying to make him uncomfortable by asking him 329 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 2: to family things, forcing my idea of normal on Ned, 330 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 2: and even quote forced him to be in a polyamorous 331 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 2: relationship with a ghost. I don't see how because I 332 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 2: changed my name, I go out of my way to 333 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 2: not mention or do anything related to John, for save 334 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 2: for the one day a year when we have the reunion. 335 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 2: I even used to celebrate mine in John's anniversaries and 336 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 2: wore his ring, but I stopped doing that before Ned 337 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 2: and I met. I don't even mention the traditions we 338 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 2: had out of respect. I do miss him sometimes, but 339 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 2: I'm not pining, and I don't verbalize it. Except my 340 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 2: therapist therapy helped me immensely here, and I'm working my hardest. 341 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 2: I didn't try to make Ned come to the birthday 342 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 2: reunions with me. I only suggested the reunion after he 343 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 2: accused me of spending it pining for John. I wanted 344 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 2: him to see that that's not true. I did ask 345 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 2: him to come to John's brother's wedding with me and 346 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:07,480 Speaker 2: my nephew's birthday, and he said no, both times, signing 347 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:10,879 Speaker 2: the same reasons. My therapist helped me frame some points 348 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 2: to tell Ned that we needed couple's therapy. John's brother 349 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 2: Tom came over and helped me move my stuff so 350 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 2: we could take them to his parents' storage. Tomorrow. Ned 351 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 2: finally came out of the den and lost his mind 352 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 2: when I told him that therapy is non negotiable. He 353 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:26,679 Speaker 2: tried to stop us from moving the stuff a few times, 354 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 2: accused me of violating his trust by asking for help, 355 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 2: and that Tom in my relationship is inappropriate because we're 356 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:36,200 Speaker 2: not related anymore. He claims he asked me to get 357 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 2: rid of the stuff in the chests, but the actual 358 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:41,719 Speaker 2: chests belong to us both, and that I have no 359 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:44,879 Speaker 2: right to take them away, that I am being manipulative 360 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:47,680 Speaker 2: by not trusting him with my stuff. He didn't give 361 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 2: me an answer regarding his therapy. Honestly, I just let 362 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 2: Tom do most of the shielding at that point because 363 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 2: I'm tired of repeating the same thing, and I felt 364 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 2: so spent that I just couldn't find it in me 365 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 2: to shout over him to be hurt. I was able 366 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 2: to get some things together, and now I'm currently at Thom's. 367 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:05,440 Speaker 2: I'm so grateful to him and his wife are breaking 368 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 2: quarantine for me now. I am just trying to manage 369 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 2: my anxiety, at least until I can talk to my 370 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:14,199 Speaker 2: therapist again. I know everyone wants me to say that 371 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:16,159 Speaker 2: I'm definitely going to divorce him, but I need a 372 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:19,359 Speaker 2: moment to collect and process. I promise. I'm thinking about 373 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:21,480 Speaker 2: how to take care of myself and keeping the separation 374 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 2: and divorce in mind. I went from being giddy with 375 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 2: love to being frustrated but hopeful this morning, to considering 376 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:32,120 Speaker 2: divorce in the evening. He's blowing up all our phones now, 377 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:34,680 Speaker 2: but I'm very tired and I just want to sleep. 378 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 2: And there is a second update. But oh my gosh, gosh, 379 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 2: totally understandable that you just need space and you're still 380 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 2: considering divorce, but you just need like to reflect on everything. 381 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 2: That's so understandable. 382 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 4: But yeah, hopefully this really just puts him in a 383 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 4: new light and shows you like that. 384 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 1: You know, his. 385 00:18:56,480 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 2: Accusing you of being manipulative is crazy because you literally 386 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 2: didn't even if someone was, like even if what Nedda 387 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 2: is saying is true, and it's like, no, I just 388 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 2: wanted you to get rid of the stuff, Like those 389 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:11,439 Speaker 2: chests mean something to me. I want those chests something 390 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 2: like that. Then Opie like getting rid of the things 391 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:19,879 Speaker 2: or Opie just bringing the whole chests away is in 392 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:22,360 Speaker 2: no way manipulative, Like there's no way you can spin 393 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:25,879 Speaker 2: that someone getting rid of a chest of stuff is 394 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 2: not manipulative at all. 395 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 3: Ever, I'm also just like it's manipul Like it's terrible 396 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 3: if she keeps it there, it's terrible if she gets 397 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 3: rid of it. 398 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, what do you want her to do? Yeah, like 399 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:38,879 Speaker 2: it's such as you have so many you're moving the 400 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:41,160 Speaker 2: goalpost with how you want her to handle this. 401 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:44,240 Speaker 3: Right, she's already gotten rid of everything, Yeah that she 402 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 3: has of his Yeah, exactly what go to therapy? 403 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:48,359 Speaker 1: Dude? 404 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,360 Speaker 2: I agree, no negotiable yeah, Like, you're bringing up these 405 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:53,360 Speaker 2: rules of how she has to deal with this, and 406 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 2: that is absolutely not okay. You're just accusing her giving 407 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,719 Speaker 2: her demands and you're not telling her, like, hey, how 408 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 2: do you I feel about this? Yeah, but we do 409 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:03,679 Speaker 2: have a second update. A few people have contacted me 410 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:05,640 Speaker 2: to let me know that my post is being shared 411 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,200 Speaker 2: on social media and that a relationship website has written 412 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 2: a story on it. I am a little disappointed, but honestly, 413 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:12,440 Speaker 2: it's not the worst thing to have in these past 414 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:15,399 Speaker 2: few days. I'm mentally preparing for the possibility that it 415 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 2: will get back to Ned and likely cause more attention. 416 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 2: Just updating to let everyone know that I'm aware and 417 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 2: we do have a third update. I want to write 418 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:26,440 Speaker 2: this down at least to hold me accountable to my decision. 419 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:28,199 Speaker 2: I spoke to Ned a few hours ago for the 420 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 2: first time since I left the house. He was very 421 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:33,399 Speaker 2: angry and lashing out. Initially I planned on having a 422 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:35,680 Speaker 2: face to face, but given the content of his messages 423 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:37,920 Speaker 2: to myself and my family when I left, I chose 424 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 2: to do so over zoom. I didn't want to ask 425 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 2: anyone else to chaperone because I'm honestly still embarrassed by 426 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:45,960 Speaker 2: the events earlier this week. There was a lot of 427 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 2: alternation between crying, yelling, and begging, and somehow he eventually 428 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 2: agreed to try marriage counseling and individual therapy. I explained 429 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 2: to him that I don't ever expect him to spend 430 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:58,879 Speaker 2: time with my family if he doesn't want to, but 431 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,439 Speaker 2: would he be willing to that they are my family 432 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:05,119 Speaker 2: even if we share no blood or existing relationship by marriage. 433 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:08,119 Speaker 2: I explained that I have known them since I was 434 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:11,399 Speaker 2: barely eighteen before there was even a John and I, 435 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 2: and that they have been my people for a decade 436 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 2: and a half. I explained that I would happily try 437 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 2: to foster the same relationship with his siblings were he 438 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 2: to ever get back on speaking terms with him. I'm 439 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 2: really hopeful that this is heading towards divorce. 440 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, I am glad that marriage counseling was mentioned. Yes, 441 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 3: I don't see it working. It is so against therapy 442 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:37,200 Speaker 3: to begin with. Yeah, and hey, I'll stay slightly hopeful 443 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 3: for you, but I don't like hear your current husbands. 444 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:41,679 Speaker 2: I don't like him at all. I won't stay hopeful 445 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 2: for you in your. 446 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:44,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know I've changed for my minde. Yeah, you're 447 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 3: still riding. 448 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:48,679 Speaker 2: I think absolutely. I think the fact that when you 449 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 2: initially brought up therapy and said it was no negotiable, 450 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:54,119 Speaker 2: he like blew up right, and then now after so 451 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 2: much back and forth of crying and anger and stuff, 452 00:21:57,000 --> 00:21:59,680 Speaker 2: now he's finally agreeing to it, like he just doesn't 453 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 2: have to get there. Yeah, he's definitely just doing that 454 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 2: to like get you to stop or get you to 455 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:08,720 Speaker 2: stay or something, and he's not going to keep with 456 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:10,440 Speaker 2: it at all. But there is a little bit more 457 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:13,720 Speaker 2: to the story this. He refused to budge on. He 458 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 2: said he will never be okay with my relationship with 459 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:19,240 Speaker 2: my family and that he will not refer to them 460 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 2: as such because what I was apparently describing was close friendships. 461 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 2: I won't bore you with other details because after that answer, 462 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 2: I don't know who or what I'm even fighting to 463 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 2: hold on to. I'm slowly accepting the fact that I 464 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 2: will be putting away more wedding photos soon. I can't 465 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 2: believe it hasn't even been a year. And that's the 466 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 2: end of this story. 467 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,080 Speaker 4: We're going on to the next one. 468 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 3: My marriage spiraled in under a year, and now I'm 469 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 3: leaving my husband. 470 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 2: Maybe that's what needs to happen, and. 471 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 3: We do have a trigger warning for substance use and booze. 472 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:53,920 Speaker 3: I twenty six female, have been married to my husband, 473 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:57,800 Speaker 3: thirty one male for less than six months. We dated 474 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 3: for over five years before that. I met him during college, 475 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:04,879 Speaker 3: which I attended in a different state, about twelve hours 476 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 3: from my family. By the way, this comes from Time 477 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:10,959 Speaker 3: Animator seventy two to seventy seven and if you want 478 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:13,440 Speaker 3: usubmit your own stories, go to the r slash Okay 479 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 3: storytime subreddit. I'm Carlen, I'm anngie, and we're here to 480 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 3: give good advice goofully, but we don't have all the answers. 481 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:21,919 Speaker 3: We only know what we would do, So let us 482 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:24,960 Speaker 3: know what you would do in the comments. And Opie says, 483 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 3: I have a couple of extremely toxic family members, but 484 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 3: the rest of them I am very close to and 485 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 3: it has been hard being away from them for the 486 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:37,679 Speaker 3: almost ten years since I left for college. In the 487 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:39,960 Speaker 3: years I have been away from home, I have not 488 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 3: really made any friends, so I have no support system 489 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 3: outside of my husband and his family and friends. A 490 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 3: few months ago, we agreed to move in with my 491 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 3: husband's parents to save up for a home, and also 492 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 3: to assist with his mother's health condition. She had a 493 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 3: massive surgery and has had trouble in the past. Following 494 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 3: doctor's orders, I have been helping with everything from chores 495 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:07,159 Speaker 3: and cooking to medication management and appointments. We plan to 496 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:09,880 Speaker 3: stay for about a year and then purchase a home nearby. 497 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 3: Living with my husband and his family has brought to 498 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:19,040 Speaker 3: light some serious communication issues within the family. My husband 499 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:21,640 Speaker 3: has no real boundaries when it comes to his family, 500 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 3: and it has become clear why he has not been 501 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:28,360 Speaker 3: able to achieve any of his goals, mainly home ownership 502 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:33,160 Speaker 3: and children, since he is constantly providing logistical and financial 503 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:36,439 Speaker 3: support to his parents and adult brother who struggles with 504 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:41,040 Speaker 3: regular use and is constantly enabled by his family. I 505 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:44,560 Speaker 3: will give one example. His parents failed to communicate until 506 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:47,359 Speaker 3: about two weeks before his mother would lose her insurance 507 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:50,640 Speaker 3: through her employer because she has yet to return to work. 508 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:54,720 Speaker 3: My husband intends to pay for her insurance indefinitely, along 509 00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 3: with the expenses of her care. He also got upset 510 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 3: when I expressed confusion and essentially dared me to voice 511 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 3: a problem with this, and he has accused me of 512 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 3: not prioritizing his family in the past, so the conversation 513 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 3: is over before it starts. I have felt unappreciated, but 514 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 3: I did not really complain until I discovered that my 515 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:18,639 Speaker 3: husband may have cheated on me. I am not sure 516 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 3: of the extent. I found some messages and he admitted 517 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 3: to paying for our phone spicy sleep and I have 518 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 3: a bad feeling, but it is about all the evidence 519 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 3: I have. Each of these incidents was when he was 520 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 3: really wasted. He will not confirm or deny anything in 521 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 3: a believable way. He shuts down and gets defensive whenever 522 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 3: I try to talk to him, so that kind of 523 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:46,120 Speaker 3: gives me my answer. I still feel paranoid and crazy 524 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 3: all the time. This made me realize that I would 525 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:53,480 Speaker 3: like a stronger support system in order to continue this relationship. 526 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 3: I asked if we could move halfway between our families 527 00:25:57,400 --> 00:25:59,920 Speaker 3: to make the trip to see my family easier on me. 528 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:03,000 Speaker 3: To be clear, I gave a timeline of a year 529 00:26:03,119 --> 00:26:06,440 Speaker 3: or so so we could make proper arrangements regarding our jobs, 530 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:10,920 Speaker 3: living situation, and of course, his family. He says no 531 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:14,200 Speaker 3: because his family needs him and he is unwilling to 532 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 3: quit his job. He has a good job, and he 533 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:19,880 Speaker 3: has worked really hard for the position he's in. I 534 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:23,320 Speaker 3: also asked if we could attend couples counseling, but he 535 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:27,119 Speaker 3: said no because he does not trust therapists. We have 536 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:31,560 Speaker 3: had this conversation multiple times with essentially the same outcome. 537 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:34,719 Speaker 3: I do not consider myself to be a stupid person, 538 00:26:35,119 --> 00:26:38,639 Speaker 3: and I can usually recognize red flags, but clearly not 539 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:40,359 Speaker 3: since this is not. 540 00:26:40,359 --> 00:26:41,639 Speaker 4: Who I thought I married. 541 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:45,040 Speaker 3: I always thought I could trust my husband and he 542 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:48,440 Speaker 3: would respect my needs, but I am realizing he may 543 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 3: not care about me as much as I care about him. 544 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:53,680 Speaker 3: He says that he is working on a plan and 545 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:56,359 Speaker 3: that he is committed to us staying together, but it 546 00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 3: does not seem that way. I am looking for jobs 547 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:02,760 Speaker 3: near my family, but my finances and everything I owe 548 00:27:02,840 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 3: are wrapped up with this person, and every conversation we 549 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 3: have had is unproductive at best and toxic at worst. 550 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:11,720 Speaker 3: I've told him more than once that I am thinking 551 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:14,600 Speaker 3: about moving by myself since I really need to be 552 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:17,960 Speaker 3: close to my family, and he freaks out every time. 553 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 3: I am terrified that if I keep pushing, he is 554 00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 3: going to freak out and I will be homeless without 555 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:23,359 Speaker 3: a plan. 556 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 1: I know his. 557 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:27,160 Speaker 3: Parents are going to lose it when they find out 558 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:29,600 Speaker 3: as well. It is also really hard to apply for 559 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 3: jobs because it means that I am giving up on 560 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:35,120 Speaker 3: my marriage that I have been super committed to. How 561 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:37,520 Speaker 3: do I get him to at the very least let 562 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:41,160 Speaker 3: me go if he will not compromise, instead of insisting 563 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 3: that we will work out and then ignoring the problem 564 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:46,199 Speaker 3: and do I wait for the year to see if 565 00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:49,639 Speaker 3: things get better or leave as soon as possible. Any 566 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:52,720 Speaker 3: advice is appreciated. This has been really hard on me. 567 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:55,120 Speaker 2: I feel like a year is a long time to 568 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 2: see things through. Yeah. 569 00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:00,919 Speaker 3: I feel like if you genuinely can't even voice your 570 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:04,439 Speaker 3: opinions anymore. Yeah, it seems like as soon as you 571 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 3: guys got married, everything just like changed, Like he was 572 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 3: like I have. 573 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:11,040 Speaker 4: Her now, like I'm married to like got here locked 574 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:11,800 Speaker 4: in right. 575 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. I think if you can't voice your opinions in 576 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:17,040 Speaker 2: the relationship is just kind of over right, Like that's 577 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 2: like what are you what are you a prisoner? 578 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:22,360 Speaker 3: Like you can't you can't have any thoughts? 579 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:25,199 Speaker 4: Yeah, Like huh no, it's a little weird to me. 580 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:28,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think, you know, maybe see you through for 581 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:31,119 Speaker 2: like a couple of months or something, if you really 582 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:33,879 Speaker 2: want to, if if you want things to change, but 583 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:35,639 Speaker 2: like it's not gonna take a year for things to 584 00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:39,080 Speaker 2: change that much. Like that's a big issues. 585 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:41,680 Speaker 3: Very very big ones. Yeah, we have an edit. I 586 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:43,680 Speaker 3: just wanted to clear some things up that I may 587 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:48,200 Speaker 3: have misconstrewed or overlooked. Our finances are separate except for. 588 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:49,040 Speaker 2: A few bills. 589 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 3: I have a job, I make decent money, and I 590 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:54,640 Speaker 3: have savings a couple thousand. But it is a start. 591 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:56,880 Speaker 3: He does what he wants with his money. I do 592 00:28:56,920 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 3: what I want with mine. I do not really care 593 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:01,760 Speaker 3: what he does his money. But when our plan was 594 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:04,440 Speaker 3: to save money and move, then I see him giving 595 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:07,960 Speaker 3: large amounts to his parents. I get confused. While there's 596 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:11,400 Speaker 3: no communication, I know I can leave for a lot 597 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 3: of reasons. I do not want to move in with 598 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 3: family unless it is an absolute emergency. I would prefer 599 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,800 Speaker 3: to get a job and an apartment near them, which 600 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:23,760 Speaker 3: will take time, at least a few months. I am 601 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 3: planning and trying to work up the nerves to leave. 602 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 3: I guess my main concern is that he will not 603 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:32,240 Speaker 3: address any of these problems. He thinks we are fine 604 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:35,640 Speaker 3: and if I suggest divorce. It is going to be messy. 605 00:29:35,680 --> 00:29:38,560 Speaker 3: I fear he thinks our issues are still that she 606 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:42,080 Speaker 3: lost trust and she misses her family. I live in 607 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:45,600 Speaker 3: a crazy world where we only have problems because I complain. 608 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:48,480 Speaker 3: I am trying to confirm if I am doing the 609 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:51,240 Speaker 3: right thing, and how I can lessen the blow for 610 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:54,520 Speaker 3: when the inevitable happens and he makes us really hard 611 00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:57,880 Speaker 3: by saying I left him and blindsided him and essentially 612 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:01,960 Speaker 3: throws a tantrum into the bitter end. My father in 613 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:04,960 Speaker 3: law retired a few months ago. He retired early. I 614 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 3: do not know why no one communicates and in my opinion, 615 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:11,680 Speaker 3: does not hold weight. I know it seems lazy that 616 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:14,720 Speaker 3: I am lacking context, but I am just as confused 617 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:15,280 Speaker 3: as you are. 618 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 2: I'm sorry. 619 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:19,520 Speaker 3: I did not see any signs before. I was fine 620 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:22,320 Speaker 3: with this lifestyle and did not complain until I found 621 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:26,800 Speaker 3: out about the possible cheating that changed my perception. I 622 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:30,400 Speaker 3: am also extremely careful about not getting pregnant. We are 623 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:34,080 Speaker 3: barely having any spicy sleep anyway. After the cheating, we 624 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:39,120 Speaker 3: have an update. I am leaving. I was still a 625 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:41,520 Speaker 3: little in denial when I first posted, and I am 626 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:45,160 Speaker 3: still doubting myself a lot. But I found the gram 627 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:48,760 Speaker 3: dms with him messaging a girl on there, flirting and 628 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:53,480 Speaker 3: exchanging pictures. I also found messages of him buying substances 629 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:55,000 Speaker 3: on numerous occasions. 630 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:55,680 Speaker 2: Wow. 631 00:30:55,800 --> 00:30:59,280 Speaker 3: He has also been binge drinking a lot. I found 632 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:01,560 Speaker 3: weien a wrap is when we first moved in. We 633 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 3: do not use them, and he spent over an hour 634 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:08,280 Speaker 3: in VIP with a spicy dancer and danced around telling 635 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:10,760 Speaker 3: me what he did with her. Still no direct answer 636 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:14,080 Speaker 3: other than nothing. I have a consultation with an attorney 637 00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:16,840 Speaker 3: this week to see about an annulment. I am not 638 00:31:16,920 --> 00:31:19,160 Speaker 3: sure if I will be eligible based on the rules 639 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:21,320 Speaker 3: in my state, but I am going to try to 640 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:24,120 Speaker 3: go for the quickest option. I have stopped trying to 641 00:31:24,160 --> 00:31:27,240 Speaker 3: fix the relationship. I asked a few times about the 642 00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:31,320 Speaker 3: couple's counseling. Again he still says no. He said that 643 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:33,440 Speaker 3: he was trying to make it work between us by 644 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:36,120 Speaker 3: finding a way to move. I told him that he 645 00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:38,520 Speaker 3: will not do it, so just drop the subject and 646 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:41,440 Speaker 3: I will get over it. He acknowledged that I will 647 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:43,760 Speaker 3: not be happy if we do not move, but he 648 00:31:43,840 --> 00:31:46,640 Speaker 3: has been a little nicer to me since He also 649 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:49,280 Speaker 3: promised to drink less, and he has not been been 650 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:52,240 Speaker 3: drinking as much. I think he feels that this is 651 00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:56,200 Speaker 3: adequate to fix the relationship. Final thoughts, Angie. 652 00:31:56,600 --> 00:32:00,120 Speaker 2: We're just we're getting there. Yeah, glad or even who 653 00:32:00,680 --> 00:32:03,400 Speaker 2: you found all of these reasons. This builds it up. 654 00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:04,760 Speaker 2: It's finally giving that pushon. 655 00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:07,920 Speaker 3: I'm so happy he cheated so much, so much, grouse. 656 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:08,760 Speaker 1: Yeah. 657 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:11,480 Speaker 3: Otherwise we do not talk much at all. I just 658 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:13,960 Speaker 3: try to focus on myself. His parents seem to be 659 00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:16,720 Speaker 3: on to me. I am trying my best to pretend 660 00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:19,560 Speaker 3: like everything is okay, even though I am doing a 661 00:32:19,560 --> 00:32:22,760 Speaker 3: worse job lately. I am applying for jobs and should 662 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 3: be ready to move in with family back home in 663 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:27,600 Speaker 3: a month or so. I plan to have family come 664 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:29,520 Speaker 3: down and help me load up and then tell him 665 00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:32,280 Speaker 3: when I am ready to go. If anyone has any 666 00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:34,800 Speaker 3: advice on how I can have this conversation with him, 667 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:37,640 Speaker 3: that is what I am most scared of, since he 668 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:41,080 Speaker 3: has downplayed everything and will continue to do so. This 669 00:32:41,280 --> 00:32:44,160 Speaker 3: is so hard and I feel so isolated. But I 670 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:46,640 Speaker 3: feel like I am making the right choice and that 671 00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:48,160 Speaker 3: is the end of that story. 672 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:49,680 Speaker 1: Hey, it's Sam. 673 00:32:49,720 --> 00:32:51,360 Speaker 5: We're gonna get back to the stories, but here's three 674 00:32:51,400 --> 00:32:54,880 Speaker 5: minutes bads from our sponsors. My mother abandoned me for 675 00:32:55,080 --> 00:32:57,160 Speaker 5: years and now she wants me back. 676 00:32:57,280 --> 00:32:59,200 Speaker 2: Ooh, too little, too late. 677 00:32:59,360 --> 00:32:59,719 Speaker 3: Mom. 678 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:03,120 Speaker 5: My mom fifty two female and dad fifty four male, 679 00:33:03,160 --> 00:33:05,760 Speaker 5: had a pretty messy divorce when I seventeen female was 680 00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:08,720 Speaker 5: about six. My mom had cheated and my dad was 681 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:12,200 Speaker 5: really upset because he loved her. After the divorce, my 682 00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:14,760 Speaker 5: mom basically gave up all custody of me. She had 683 00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:17,760 Speaker 5: visitation rights but never used them and never tried to 684 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:20,880 Speaker 5: contact me, despite my dad keeping an open line of communication. 685 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:23,000 Speaker 5: By the way, this comes from user Alternative d Or 686 00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:24,840 Speaker 5: eighty one ninety eight, And if you want to submit 687 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:25,680 Speaker 5: your own stories, go. 688 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:26,600 Speaker 1: To the our slashing Okay story. 689 00:33:26,680 --> 00:33:28,680 Speaker 2: I'm Subbert and I'm Dakota, I'm Angie, and. 690 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:29,840 Speaker 5: We're already give you a little bit of good of 691 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:31,360 Speaker 5: bass goofley, But we don't have all the answers. 692 00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:33,120 Speaker 1: We're just a couple. We're just gonna be a big 693 00:33:33,160 --> 00:33:34,000 Speaker 1: bunch of goofball. 694 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:37,160 Speaker 5: So if you would do anything differently, why don't you 695 00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:39,480 Speaker 5: just let us know in the comments. My dad met 696 00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:42,520 Speaker 5: Donna fifty two female when I was seven, I noticed 697 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:46,520 Speaker 5: him paying more attention to his appearance and looking much happier. 698 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:50,720 Speaker 5: I officially met Donna like two months before turning eight. 699 00:33:51,040 --> 00:33:53,360 Speaker 5: I did not really like her at first because the 700 00:33:53,400 --> 00:33:55,840 Speaker 5: wounds from my mom were still fresh, but she was 701 00:33:55,960 --> 00:33:58,000 Speaker 5: very patient with me. She let me know right away 702 00:33:58,040 --> 00:33:59,920 Speaker 5: that she would not try to take my mother's role 703 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:02,720 Speaker 5: and would understand my distance as long as I was polite, 704 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:03,520 Speaker 5: and I was. 705 00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:05,600 Speaker 1: Then they announced that they would get married when I 706 00:34:05,640 --> 00:34:05,920 Speaker 1: was eight. 707 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:07,560 Speaker 5: Donna let me be a part of her wedding, and 708 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:09,480 Speaker 5: I did not throw a fit or anything because my 709 00:34:09,600 --> 00:34:13,800 Speaker 5: dad was happy. Not long after their honeymoon, Donna was expecting. 710 00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:18,320 Speaker 5: What This is where I think our relationships started to change. 711 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:19,960 Speaker 5: She let me be a part of her pregnancy the 712 00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:23,640 Speaker 5: whole way. She asked me for ideas on the nursery, paint, colors, toys. 713 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:26,520 Speaker 5: She even wanted me to help name my future half sibling. 714 00:34:26,680 --> 00:34:29,040 Speaker 5: I started getting much closer to her, and it really 715 00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:31,520 Speaker 5: helped me cope with my mom's absence. Donna ended up 716 00:34:31,560 --> 00:34:35,520 Speaker 5: having triplet boys, and she even took. 717 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:38,400 Speaker 1: One of my name ideas for one of my brothers. 718 00:34:38,480 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 5: Despite what some people think of their half siblings, Donna's 719 00:34:41,640 --> 00:34:44,680 Speaker 5: and my dad's kids really felt like they were my brothers. 720 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:46,920 Speaker 1: She didn't even let her parents see the. 721 00:34:46,840 --> 00:34:49,680 Speaker 5: Triplets before I did. The boys are nine now, and 722 00:34:49,719 --> 00:34:52,279 Speaker 5: I love them with every fiber of my being. They 723 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:56,000 Speaker 5: are all so cute and sweet with their own personalities. 724 00:34:56,080 --> 00:34:58,640 Speaker 5: Donna and I are really close now, and I even 725 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:01,280 Speaker 5: asked if I could call her mom when I was fourteen. 726 00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:04,920 Speaker 5: This is where everything goes downhill. When I turned fifteen, 727 00:35:05,360 --> 00:35:08,360 Speaker 5: my mom came back into the picture. She suddenly wanted 728 00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:10,840 Speaker 5: to see me and actually took my dad to court 729 00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:12,239 Speaker 5: to get custody. 730 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:13,080 Speaker 1: For some reason. 731 00:35:13,120 --> 00:35:16,040 Speaker 5: The judge took pity on her and gave her fifty 732 00:35:16,040 --> 00:35:18,840 Speaker 5: to fifty custody. My mom had remarried to Jim and 733 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:21,640 Speaker 5: they also have four kids together, two of which are 734 00:35:21,680 --> 00:35:24,760 Speaker 5: from Jim's previous marriage. I guess my mom thought everything 735 00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:27,080 Speaker 5: would be okay with us, but let's. 736 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:28,840 Speaker 1: Just say we do not get along. 737 00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:31,440 Speaker 5: I'll admit I did act like a witch sometimes at 738 00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:34,279 Speaker 5: her house. Jim also thought that I should treat him 739 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:37,040 Speaker 5: like a father, which did not go over well. And 740 00:35:37,080 --> 00:35:39,400 Speaker 5: they all thought that I would treat my half siblings 741 00:35:39,400 --> 00:35:41,960 Speaker 5: like actual siblings, and I do not. I just don't 742 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:44,840 Speaker 5: feel the same way about them as I do the triplets, and. 743 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:47,400 Speaker 1: Actually I know why. They're all huge brats. 744 00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:50,960 Speaker 5: They cry constantly, even more than the triplets did as babies, 745 00:35:51,320 --> 00:35:54,480 Speaker 5: and they're asking always to play with me, even when 746 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:56,719 Speaker 5: I have school, where Mom gets mad at me if 747 00:35:56,760 --> 00:35:58,880 Speaker 5: I don't want to, so I always just stay in 748 00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:01,680 Speaker 5: my room, which is the basement when I am there 749 00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:04,120 Speaker 5: now under the issue. I was at my mom's house 750 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:06,239 Speaker 5: two weeks ago for the weekend and was about to 751 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:08,440 Speaker 5: go back to my dad's. My dad came to pick 752 00:36:08,480 --> 00:36:10,600 Speaker 5: me up with one of the triplets because he had 753 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:12,360 Speaker 5: a stomach ache. I had taken him out of his 754 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:14,560 Speaker 5: booster seat and was playing with him a little before 755 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:16,959 Speaker 5: I got into the car. Apparently one of my half 756 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:20,120 Speaker 5: sisters saw that and was inconsolable to my mom. She 757 00:36:20,200 --> 00:36:21,960 Speaker 5: called me a couple hours later to yell at me 758 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:22,319 Speaker 5: about it. 759 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:25,040 Speaker 1: She basically said, do you not love your siblings too? 760 00:36:25,400 --> 00:36:27,520 Speaker 5: And I told her, no, I do not love the 761 00:36:27,560 --> 00:36:31,319 Speaker 5: siblings that you have with your new husband, the kids 762 00:36:31,320 --> 00:36:33,240 Speaker 5: that you have with your new husband after you abandoned 763 00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:34,320 Speaker 5: me my entire life. 764 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:35,920 Speaker 1: No, I don't. I don't really care for them. 765 00:36:35,960 --> 00:36:37,719 Speaker 2: This is not one of those situations where it's like, oh, 766 00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:40,200 Speaker 2: in your family, you kind of love them. It's like, well, 767 00:36:40,760 --> 00:36:43,360 Speaker 2: your family, so you gotta not like leave. 768 00:36:43,520 --> 00:36:45,160 Speaker 5: Maybe if you were in my family, you would have 769 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:48,520 Speaker 5: been here instead of just suing my father for custody 770 00:36:48,520 --> 00:36:50,600 Speaker 5: when I was fifteen. She hung up after saying that 771 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:52,239 Speaker 5: she and I would talk about it next time I 772 00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:54,160 Speaker 5: was there. I was there last weekend and she and 773 00:36:54,239 --> 00:36:56,360 Speaker 5: Jim were yelling at me about it. She asked me 774 00:36:56,400 --> 00:36:58,080 Speaker 5: again if I loved her kids and Jim, and I 775 00:36:58,200 --> 00:37:00,279 Speaker 5: told her no, they are annoying and I do not 776 00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:02,759 Speaker 5: care for them. She started crying and asked if I 777 00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:06,240 Speaker 5: loved her, and I told her I don't really and. 778 00:37:06,120 --> 00:37:07,640 Speaker 1: Said, why would I care about you? 779 00:37:07,640 --> 00:37:10,400 Speaker 5: You left me for seven years before you decided you 780 00:37:10,440 --> 00:37:13,200 Speaker 5: wanted a relationship. I'm pretty sure you only wanted me 781 00:37:13,280 --> 00:37:15,640 Speaker 5: back so you didn't have to pay child support for me. 782 00:37:15,920 --> 00:37:17,680 Speaker 5: I asked my dad about that, and he said my 783 00:37:17,719 --> 00:37:19,480 Speaker 5: mom was told to pay a couple hundred. 784 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:22,279 Speaker 1: After that line, there was more screaming and crying, so 785 00:37:22,360 --> 00:37:23,839 Speaker 1: I just went back to my dad's house. 786 00:37:23,880 --> 00:37:25,880 Speaker 5: My mom and Jim have been crying to me since. 787 00:37:26,239 --> 00:37:27,879 Speaker 5: So am I the a hole for telling my mom 788 00:37:27,960 --> 00:37:30,120 Speaker 5: why I don't like her and her kids. If you 789 00:37:30,160 --> 00:37:33,560 Speaker 5: don't like your kids not really feeling like they have 790 00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:37,600 Speaker 5: a connection to you, don't abandon them for almost a decade, exactly. 791 00:37:37,760 --> 00:37:39,680 Speaker 2: And I mean, if you don't want to hear that 792 00:37:39,760 --> 00:37:42,319 Speaker 2: your kids don't love you, don't ask them if they 793 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:45,160 Speaker 2: love you. You're opening yourself up to all the answers. 794 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:46,880 Speaker 2: I don't know what you expected. 795 00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:50,120 Speaker 5: You're crying to a teenager, being like, oh, but you're 796 00:37:50,239 --> 00:37:52,719 Speaker 5: not giving me the response I won. 797 00:37:53,080 --> 00:37:57,000 Speaker 2: That's not right. I'm your mom, Yeah, exactly. 798 00:37:57,719 --> 00:38:01,080 Speaker 1: And this man is your fuck. I mean he's not. 799 00:38:01,280 --> 00:38:04,760 Speaker 1: He's Jim. He's just Jim, but should be your dad. 800 00:38:06,320 --> 00:38:09,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, you lost all rights to that argument. 801 00:38:09,960 --> 00:38:13,520 Speaker 5: Comment from Jemethis says, not the ahole, and you're seventeen. 802 00:38:13,680 --> 00:38:16,800 Speaker 5: A court can't force you to see her, so stop going. 803 00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:19,680 Speaker 5: Opie replies, I think I will at this point. I 804 00:38:19,760 --> 00:38:21,640 Speaker 5: was just going because my dad and Donna want me 805 00:38:21,719 --> 00:38:24,279 Speaker 5: to have a relationship with her. Comment to replies, sit 806 00:38:24,320 --> 00:38:26,919 Speaker 5: them down and explain how you feel. They probably thought 807 00:38:26,960 --> 00:38:29,920 Speaker 5: it was right for you to at least try. But 808 00:38:30,160 --> 00:38:34,160 Speaker 5: Donna slash Mom was amazing to you, and you knew 809 00:38:34,200 --> 00:38:37,760 Speaker 5: your brothers from conception. You all built a family together 810 00:38:38,200 --> 00:38:40,560 Speaker 5: your bio mom. You had just been picked up and 811 00:38:40,640 --> 00:38:44,000 Speaker 5: expected to be dropped into a ready made family. It 812 00:38:44,080 --> 00:38:46,800 Speaker 5: does not work like that, Opie says, I probably will. 813 00:38:47,120 --> 00:38:49,960 Speaker 5: They're out right now taking my brother to the doctors, 814 00:38:49,960 --> 00:38:51,560 Speaker 5: but I'll try to talk to them as soon as 815 00:38:51,560 --> 00:38:53,799 Speaker 5: they get the chance to. Another comment says, you're not 816 00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:56,120 Speaker 5: the a hole, but I'm so happy your dad was 817 00:38:56,160 --> 00:38:58,160 Speaker 5: a good dad and Donna was a step mom that 818 00:38:58,239 --> 00:39:00,600 Speaker 5: never overstepped, but also maybe did you a part of 819 00:39:00,600 --> 00:39:02,680 Speaker 5: her family. I'm happy for you that you have them 820 00:39:02,760 --> 00:39:05,680 Speaker 5: and your siblings. Oh P says they really are the 821 00:39:05,719 --> 00:39:08,200 Speaker 5: best parents. Some of my extended family was mad that 822 00:39:08,239 --> 00:39:10,200 Speaker 5: he moved on so quickly, but I know he really 823 00:39:10,239 --> 00:39:12,600 Speaker 5: needed someone in that dark time. Plus I have the 824 00:39:12,600 --> 00:39:14,799 Speaker 5: best brothers in the world and a new mom. Another 825 00:39:14,880 --> 00:39:18,040 Speaker 5: comment says, not the ahole. Expecting a child you abandoned 826 00:39:18,440 --> 00:39:20,920 Speaker 5: to just suddenly start loving you like nothing happened is 827 00:39:20,960 --> 00:39:24,000 Speaker 5: absurd enough. Expecting you to treat a stranger you met 828 00:39:24,080 --> 00:39:27,680 Speaker 5: at fifteen years old as a father figure is beyond laughable. 829 00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:30,200 Speaker 5: Oh P says, The funny thing is is she tried 830 00:39:30,239 --> 00:39:33,480 Speaker 5: those exact same words. When she was talking about Donna, 831 00:39:33,680 --> 00:39:35,760 Speaker 5: she said that I couldn't love her so much because 832 00:39:35,760 --> 00:39:38,359 Speaker 5: she's just a stranger and I'm your mother. Sorry, mom, 833 00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:40,920 Speaker 5: but I've literally known Donna longer than I've known you. 834 00:39:41,200 --> 00:39:41,560 Speaker 1: Update. 835 00:39:41,680 --> 00:39:43,600 Speaker 5: I got to call a couple minutes ago from my mom. 836 00:39:43,760 --> 00:39:45,759 Speaker 5: She basically said she's going to go to court again 837 00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:49,080 Speaker 5: to try and fight my dad for full custody of me. Like, sure, 838 00:39:49,120 --> 00:39:50,680 Speaker 5: the courts are going to give you full custody of 839 00:39:50,680 --> 00:39:53,200 Speaker 5: your seventeen year old daughter that you did not see 840 00:39:53,239 --> 00:39:56,000 Speaker 5: for about nine years. I'm seriously debating on just not 841 00:39:56,120 --> 00:39:58,520 Speaker 5: going again for the weekend. I'll talk to my dad 842 00:39:58,560 --> 00:40:01,239 Speaker 5: about stopping visitation, but one commenter brought up how it 843 00:40:01,320 --> 00:40:03,800 Speaker 5: might be a little risky, so I'll ask if we 844 00:40:03,840 --> 00:40:05,960 Speaker 5: could talk to a lawyer about it. I also have 845 00:40:06,040 --> 00:40:07,799 Speaker 5: not had a chance to talk with my dad and 846 00:40:07,840 --> 00:40:09,279 Speaker 5: Donna about not going over there. 847 00:40:09,360 --> 00:40:10,360 Speaker 1: I don't understand. 848 00:40:10,360 --> 00:40:13,000 Speaker 5: I don't think if you show up to the court 849 00:40:13,320 --> 00:40:16,200 Speaker 5: during this process and go I don't want to go 850 00:40:16,239 --> 00:40:18,399 Speaker 5: to my mom's I don't want anything to do with them. 851 00:40:18,440 --> 00:40:20,759 Speaker 1: I don't think the court would go well. You don't 852 00:40:20,800 --> 00:40:22,239 Speaker 1: get a say in that, Missy. 853 00:40:22,080 --> 00:40:23,520 Speaker 2: Time to go to your mom's house, and if you 854 00:40:23,520 --> 00:40:25,480 Speaker 2: don't go, you're gonna be police escorted. 855 00:40:25,680 --> 00:40:28,239 Speaker 5: My dad is also a child of divorce, but in 856 00:40:28,239 --> 00:40:30,480 Speaker 5: his case, his mom never let him have a relationship 857 00:40:30,480 --> 00:40:33,040 Speaker 5: with his father after the divorce. I think that's why 858 00:40:33,080 --> 00:40:35,719 Speaker 5: he wants me and my mom to talk. I'll talk 859 00:40:35,760 --> 00:40:37,280 Speaker 5: to them about this when I have a chance. 860 00:40:37,400 --> 00:40:39,160 Speaker 1: We got a little, but we got another update. You 861 00:40:39,200 --> 00:40:41,800 Speaker 1: don't like your mom's she abandoned you for nine years. 862 00:40:41,920 --> 00:40:44,040 Speaker 5: She's definitely not going about it the right way. She's saying, 863 00:40:44,200 --> 00:40:47,280 Speaker 5: I'm gonna get full cussy of you. She's literally acting 864 00:40:47,320 --> 00:40:51,959 Speaker 5: like a little petulant child, yeah, over her own abandonment 865 00:40:52,280 --> 00:40:52,680 Speaker 5: of you. 866 00:40:53,160 --> 00:40:56,480 Speaker 1: She's acting like you ran away from home for nine years, 867 00:40:56,600 --> 00:41:00,080 Speaker 1: exactly like that's not what happened. Update number two. I 868 00:41:00,160 --> 00:41:02,680 Speaker 1: kind of forgot about this and now I'm prepping for college. 869 00:41:02,760 --> 00:41:03,680 Speaker 1: An update on mom. 870 00:41:04,080 --> 00:41:06,040 Speaker 5: Of course, nothing happened with the lawyer junk, and I 871 00:41:06,120 --> 00:41:09,080 Speaker 5: honestly don't know what she expected. But I decided that 872 00:41:09,160 --> 00:41:11,960 Speaker 5: I was going to stop visitation. As much as I 873 00:41:12,040 --> 00:41:14,760 Speaker 5: wish my relationship with her worked out, I just needed 874 00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:18,160 Speaker 5: to understand that despite her having me, she was never 875 00:41:18,239 --> 00:41:21,120 Speaker 5: really my mom, But that does not matter anymore. I 876 00:41:21,200 --> 00:41:24,719 Speaker 5: got Donna dad, and that is all that matters to me. Also, 877 00:41:24,760 --> 00:41:27,279 Speaker 5: I'm eighteen now, so she can't really enforce it. And 878 00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:29,479 Speaker 5: I know some people said to block her, but I 879 00:41:29,520 --> 00:41:32,920 Speaker 5: did not have to because she blocked me. I still 880 00:41:32,960 --> 00:41:36,000 Speaker 5: did block her back, just to make sure. So this 881 00:41:36,160 --> 00:41:38,480 Speaker 5: is the end with my mom and step family and 882 00:41:38,560 --> 00:41:40,600 Speaker 5: net is the end of that story. 883 00:41:40,680 --> 00:41:41,600 Speaker 2: Well screw that, mom. 884 00:41:41,719 --> 00:41:42,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, what a. 885 00:41:42,120 --> 00:41:45,240 Speaker 2: Little loser lady loser. 886 00:41:46,080 --> 00:41:49,240 Speaker 4: I say that you're all guilty with loser lady offenses. 887 00:41:49,280 --> 00:41:51,839 Speaker 1: We're gonna send you over at a losing lady island. Yes, 888 00:41:52,440 --> 00:41:55,400 Speaker 1: I live with who have who have a played? Scott O'Hara, 889 00:41:55,480 --> 00:41:57,880 Speaker 1: who have a wee? U saying playing that? I don't know? 890 00:41:58,080 --> 00:42:01,799 Speaker 4: Well ya hey, but who is who is to give 891 00:42:01,880 --> 00:42:03,000 Speaker 4: credit to for the uh? 892 00:42:03,360 --> 00:42:05,080 Speaker 1: I've got it. I've got it right now? What is it? 893 00:42:05,200 --> 00:42:09,920 Speaker 2: The Atlantic trans Transatlantic accent? Thanks Carly. I saw like 894 00:42:09,960 --> 00:42:12,120 Speaker 2: a video of it the other day, meaning like a 895 00:42:12,160 --> 00:42:12,640 Speaker 2: month ago. 896 00:42:12,840 --> 00:42:16,240 Speaker 1: It was canea, Oh it was yeah, Cabinet. 897 00:42:15,800 --> 00:42:19,600 Speaker 2: BA Cavaneta's me. I think that was your first guest. Yeah, 898 00:42:19,640 --> 00:42:20,920 Speaker 2: and that's the end of this story. 899 00:42:21,000 --> 00:42:22,759 Speaker 1: We're gonna go on to the next one. 900 00:42:22,800 --> 00:42:26,720 Speaker 2: My family disrespected my wife. Now she might leave. 901 00:42:27,000 --> 00:42:28,080 Speaker 3: You should go with her. 902 00:42:28,160 --> 00:42:30,879 Speaker 2: My wife is the most amazing person I've ever met. 903 00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:33,359 Speaker 2: We've been together for fifteen years and married for eight. 904 00:42:33,520 --> 00:42:37,000 Speaker 2: She's kind, warm, nurturing, and comes from a large family 905 00:42:37,040 --> 00:42:39,200 Speaker 2: that's got its quirks, but we all get along well. 906 00:42:39,239 --> 00:42:41,520 Speaker 2: By the way, this comes from it no Application fourteen 907 00:42:41,600 --> 00:42:43,960 Speaker 2: fifty nine And if you want to submit your own stories, 908 00:42:43,960 --> 00:42:47,720 Speaker 2: go to the r slash Okay Storytime. Supredit and I'm Angie. 909 00:42:47,320 --> 00:42:50,000 Speaker 4: I'm Carly, and we're here to give good advice Googly. 910 00:42:50,040 --> 00:42:51,759 Speaker 2: But we don't have all the answers. We just know 911 00:42:51,800 --> 00:42:53,600 Speaker 2: what we would do in the situation, So let us 912 00:42:53,600 --> 00:42:55,480 Speaker 2: know what you would do in the comments. My parents 913 00:42:55,600 --> 00:42:58,480 Speaker 2: love her, and so does my middle brother and his wife. 914 00:42:58,800 --> 00:43:01,480 Speaker 2: My extended family does too, But starting a couple of 915 00:43:01,560 --> 00:43:04,000 Speaker 2: years ago, my wife began having tension with my youngest 916 00:43:04,040 --> 00:43:07,040 Speaker 2: brother and his wife, and it's gotten to a breaking point. 917 00:43:07,120 --> 00:43:09,319 Speaker 2: I'm the oldest of three brothers. We're all in our 918 00:43:09,400 --> 00:43:12,359 Speaker 2: thirties and all married. My youngest brother had a rough 919 00:43:12,440 --> 00:43:14,719 Speaker 2: go of life. He got into trouble a lot as 920 00:43:14,719 --> 00:43:17,320 Speaker 2: a kid and got tossed out of more than one school. 921 00:43:17,360 --> 00:43:19,160 Speaker 2: Oh wow, it's been hard for him to hold down 922 00:43:19,160 --> 00:43:21,120 Speaker 2: a job, but he's been trying to make a better 923 00:43:21,160 --> 00:43:23,520 Speaker 2: life for himself for some time. We were all surprised 924 00:43:23,560 --> 00:43:25,840 Speaker 2: and happy when a very successful woman took a liking 925 00:43:25,880 --> 00:43:27,920 Speaker 2: to him, and they are now married with a daughter. 926 00:43:28,040 --> 00:43:30,560 Speaker 2: From what I can gather, the tension started escalating and 927 00:43:30,640 --> 00:43:32,480 Speaker 2: my parents invited all of us to stay at their 928 00:43:32,480 --> 00:43:34,840 Speaker 2: beach house for a few weeks. My youngest brother's wife 929 00:43:34,880 --> 00:43:37,160 Speaker 2: was not happy with his childhood room because there was 930 00:43:37,200 --> 00:43:39,520 Speaker 2: no tub in the bathroom for their daughter, who was 931 00:43:39,600 --> 00:43:41,640 Speaker 2: one at the time. She was not comfortable using a 932 00:43:41,680 --> 00:43:44,040 Speaker 2: travel tub that my middle brother's wife used for their 933 00:43:44,239 --> 00:43:47,319 Speaker 2: baby and two year old son. My mom told me 934 00:43:47,360 --> 00:43:49,359 Speaker 2: and my wife to switch rooms with my youngest brother 935 00:43:49,400 --> 00:43:51,920 Speaker 2: because my childhood room is the only one with the 936 00:43:51,960 --> 00:43:54,840 Speaker 2: tub in the bathroom. My wife was not happy, mostly 937 00:43:54,880 --> 00:43:57,399 Speaker 2: because we had purchased a special bed for my room. 938 00:43:57,600 --> 00:44:00,400 Speaker 2: She's six foot and I'm six fours, so we need 939 00:44:00,440 --> 00:44:03,400 Speaker 2: a longer bed, and my brother's room has low angled 940 00:44:03,400 --> 00:44:07,239 Speaker 2: ceilings and separate twin beds. I wasn't particularly happy about 941 00:44:07,239 --> 00:44:10,040 Speaker 2: it either. We hit our heads and had back pain 942 00:44:10,120 --> 00:44:14,000 Speaker 2: from the short beds. Admittedly, it wasn't great. Apparently, one night, 943 00:44:14,040 --> 00:44:15,960 Speaker 2: when my wife tried to make a joke about missing 944 00:44:15,960 --> 00:44:18,360 Speaker 2: my room because of our feet hanging off the twin beds, 945 00:44:18,719 --> 00:44:21,879 Speaker 2: my youngest brother's wife said something along the lines of, well, 946 00:44:21,920 --> 00:44:23,840 Speaker 2: you don't have kids, so you don't understand why we 947 00:44:23,920 --> 00:44:24,399 Speaker 2: need the tub? 948 00:44:24,480 --> 00:44:27,280 Speaker 3: Can you not take the one year old to somebody 949 00:44:27,320 --> 00:44:30,080 Speaker 3: else's room? And yeah, the tub? I feel like, are 950 00:44:30,120 --> 00:44:32,120 Speaker 3: they going to really care that a one year old 951 00:44:32,280 --> 00:44:33,640 Speaker 3: was bathed in their tub? 952 00:44:33,840 --> 00:44:34,040 Speaker 1: Yeah? 953 00:44:34,080 --> 00:44:37,360 Speaker 2: It's like, okay, well, sorry, you don't understand because you're short. 954 00:44:37,360 --> 00:44:39,239 Speaker 3: Right, the bath still exists. 955 00:44:39,440 --> 00:44:45,560 Speaker 2: I'm tall, Yeah, exactly, Like we both have separate problems, 956 00:44:46,000 --> 00:44:48,920 Speaker 2: can't we understand both. I remember my wife being upset 957 00:44:48,920 --> 00:44:50,640 Speaker 2: about the comment at the time, but I guess I 958 00:44:50,640 --> 00:44:53,400 Speaker 2: didn't realize how upsetting it was to her. We'd agreed 959 00:44:53,440 --> 00:44:55,760 Speaker 2: before we were married that we both wanted to maximize 960 00:44:55,800 --> 00:44:58,120 Speaker 2: our savings and investments so that when the time came 961 00:44:58,160 --> 00:45:00,800 Speaker 2: to have kids, she could either scale her work hours 962 00:45:00,880 --> 00:45:04,680 Speaker 2: dramatically or quit altogether. And we want to comfortably be 963 00:45:04,760 --> 00:45:07,160 Speaker 2: able to afford a nanny. We agreed upon a number 964 00:45:07,200 --> 00:45:09,600 Speaker 2: we wanted to hit, and we're nearly there. In our 965 00:45:09,640 --> 00:45:12,399 Speaker 2: last progress conversation, we agreed next year is the year 966 00:45:12,400 --> 00:45:13,560 Speaker 2: to start trying, and. 967 00:45:13,520 --> 00:45:15,320 Speaker 4: As far as I could tell, we were both excited 968 00:45:15,360 --> 00:45:15,719 Speaker 4: about it. 969 00:45:15,760 --> 00:45:17,719 Speaker 2: But I guess in the meantime, my brother and his 970 00:45:17,760 --> 00:45:19,920 Speaker 2: wife have been making a lot of mean comments to 971 00:45:19,920 --> 00:45:22,080 Speaker 2: my wife about how she has no value as a 972 00:45:22,080 --> 00:45:25,440 Speaker 2: woman because she is not a mone god. I'm sorry, 973 00:45:25,640 --> 00:45:29,160 Speaker 2: do we live in gone with the wind? What? What 974 00:45:29,280 --> 00:45:32,000 Speaker 2: is going on here? You have no value as a 975 00:45:32,000 --> 00:45:33,399 Speaker 2: woman because you are not a. 976 00:45:33,680 --> 00:45:36,479 Speaker 3: Sane I'd be like, cool, get out of the tall bed. 977 00:45:36,760 --> 00:45:40,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, okay, so you're goal. You're literally saying that all 978 00:45:40,280 --> 00:45:43,439 Speaker 2: you can do as a woman, like all you have 979 00:45:43,480 --> 00:45:46,959 Speaker 2: provided to this world is like kids. It's like, yeah, 980 00:45:47,000 --> 00:45:50,400 Speaker 2: that's that's pretty cool. But yeah, I know it's not 981 00:45:50,480 --> 00:45:52,279 Speaker 2: like simple, but it's like so that you. 982 00:45:53,000 --> 00:45:56,120 Speaker 3: Are than that though to you as a human. 983 00:45:56,400 --> 00:45:59,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, literally, it's like, okay, go and live in the 984 00:45:59,280 --> 00:46:01,879 Speaker 2: Handmaid's Tale of if you'd like, come on. I think 985 00:46:01,920 --> 00:46:04,520 Speaker 2: my wife is being her usual gracious self and letting 986 00:46:04,560 --> 00:46:06,759 Speaker 2: the comments roll off her back for a while. That 987 00:46:06,920 --> 00:46:09,520 Speaker 2: changed last summer, when my brother and his family stayed 988 00:46:09,520 --> 00:46:11,360 Speaker 2: in our summer rental with us for a week. We 989 00:46:11,400 --> 00:46:13,600 Speaker 2: had a party one evening, and some friends saw my 990 00:46:13,719 --> 00:46:17,319 Speaker 2: wasted brother rock the deck railing until it broke. My 991 00:46:17,400 --> 00:46:19,359 Speaker 2: wife and I had to pay for the repairs, and 992 00:46:19,400 --> 00:46:22,400 Speaker 2: in her unhappiness about the situation, everything he and his 993 00:46:22,440 --> 00:46:25,560 Speaker 2: wife had said to her came out. All kinds of 994 00:46:25,560 --> 00:46:28,440 Speaker 2: things about how my wife is a least liked wife 995 00:46:28,440 --> 00:46:31,360 Speaker 2: in the family, which is not true. She's my dad's 996 00:46:31,800 --> 00:46:35,200 Speaker 2: favorite of all of us, boys included, for sure, and 997 00:46:35,440 --> 00:46:38,520 Speaker 2: how embarrassed she must feel to not have kids yet 998 00:46:38,520 --> 00:46:41,400 Speaker 2: her age. She's thirty four. I didn't hear any of 999 00:46:41,440 --> 00:46:44,160 Speaker 2: this directly, but was able to corroborate most of it 1000 00:46:44,280 --> 00:46:47,000 Speaker 2: from my friends and my middle brother and his wife. 1001 00:46:47,040 --> 00:46:49,440 Speaker 2: I know my youngest brother can be an insecure wiener 1002 00:46:49,600 --> 00:46:51,960 Speaker 2: in his worst moments, but I didn't realize his wife 1003 00:46:52,000 --> 00:46:54,360 Speaker 2: was in on it too. His wife isn't a super 1004 00:46:54,400 --> 00:46:56,960 Speaker 2: warm person in my experience, but I thought we all 1005 00:46:57,000 --> 00:46:59,640 Speaker 2: got along. What's really sad is that my wife and 1006 00:46:59,640 --> 00:47:02,080 Speaker 2: my brother seemingly got along great for years. She and 1007 00:47:02,120 --> 00:47:04,439 Speaker 2: I drove him to college drop off together one year, 1008 00:47:04,480 --> 00:47:06,239 Speaker 2: and the three of us had such a blast. I'm 1009 00:47:06,239 --> 00:47:08,720 Speaker 2: not sure what changed after the summer visit. My wife 1010 00:47:08,760 --> 00:47:11,400 Speaker 2: had enough she no longer wanted to hang out with 1011 00:47:11,440 --> 00:47:14,360 Speaker 2: my youngest bro or his wife except for family gathering. 1012 00:47:14,440 --> 00:47:17,080 Speaker 2: My wife remains very supportive of me seeing them. My 1013 00:47:17,160 --> 00:47:19,359 Speaker 2: dad was estranged from one of his brothers until that 1014 00:47:19,400 --> 00:47:21,279 Speaker 2: brother passed away, and I really don't want that to 1015 00:47:21,280 --> 00:47:23,399 Speaker 2: happen with my little brother. So I see my brother 1016 00:47:23,440 --> 00:47:25,840 Speaker 2: and his wife on my own or with my middle 1017 00:47:25,840 --> 00:47:29,200 Speaker 2: brother and his wife, mostly sometimes with my parents. Last year, 1018 00:47:29,239 --> 00:47:31,480 Speaker 2: we bought a house and invited everyone to spend Christmas 1019 00:47:31,520 --> 00:47:34,600 Speaker 2: with us. My youngest brother and his wife initially declined, 1020 00:47:34,640 --> 00:47:36,920 Speaker 2: so we invited friends to take that room. Then they 1021 00:47:37,080 --> 00:47:39,600 Speaker 2: changed their minds the week of Christmas too, yes, so 1022 00:47:39,680 --> 00:47:41,560 Speaker 2: we had to ask our friends if they would stay 1023 00:47:41,560 --> 00:47:43,799 Speaker 2: in a hotel instead that we would pay for. 1024 00:47:44,120 --> 00:47:47,319 Speaker 3: No. No, sorry, those rooms are actually already taken, but 1025 00:47:47,480 --> 00:47:48,800 Speaker 3: there was a pretty good hotel. 1026 00:47:48,960 --> 00:47:50,280 Speaker 2: Sorry, we're fully booked. 1027 00:47:50,360 --> 00:47:51,280 Speaker 3: We're so booked. 1028 00:47:51,280 --> 00:47:52,200 Speaker 2: We're so booked. 1029 00:47:52,239 --> 00:47:54,200 Speaker 4: You're either gonna have to like pay us or something. 1030 00:47:54,520 --> 00:47:56,759 Speaker 3: Do you want to sleep in the tub? I heard that, Yeah, 1031 00:47:56,800 --> 00:47:58,040 Speaker 3: I heard that they're pretty cool. 1032 00:47:58,360 --> 00:48:01,040 Speaker 2: The friends decided not to come, which was fine until 1033 00:48:01,120 --> 00:48:03,800 Speaker 2: Christmas Eve morning, when my brother and his wife changed 1034 00:48:03,840 --> 00:48:07,200 Speaker 2: back to no. Oh, my God, their daughter was sick. 1035 00:48:07,400 --> 00:48:10,840 Speaker 2: My wife was understandably upset after that. She told me 1036 00:48:10,880 --> 00:48:12,920 Speaker 2: that she wanted a nice long break from having to 1037 00:48:12,960 --> 00:48:14,919 Speaker 2: interact with them at all. A couple of weeks ago, 1038 00:48:15,000 --> 00:48:16,920 Speaker 2: my mom told me that my youngest brother's wife got 1039 00:48:16,960 --> 00:48:19,920 Speaker 2: a job offer in the UK, where she's from originally, 1040 00:48:20,080 --> 00:48:21,719 Speaker 2: and that they are going to move there at the 1041 00:48:21,800 --> 00:48:23,799 Speaker 2: end of the year. So my mom really wants to 1042 00:48:23,800 --> 00:48:25,799 Speaker 2: have this Christmas at their beach house with all of 1043 00:48:25,840 --> 00:48:27,920 Speaker 2: us before the move. My mom is somewhat aware of 1044 00:48:27,960 --> 00:48:29,879 Speaker 2: the tension, but I think, like all of us, she's 1045 00:48:29,920 --> 00:48:32,239 Speaker 2: so happy that my brother managed to straighten himself out 1046 00:48:32,360 --> 00:48:34,719 Speaker 2: enough to attract a bread winning wife and start a 1047 00:48:34,719 --> 00:48:36,880 Speaker 2: family that he could do no wrong in her eyes. 1048 00:48:36,960 --> 00:48:39,239 Speaker 2: When I told my wife about the Christmas invite, she 1049 00:48:39,280 --> 00:48:43,440 Speaker 2: got really upset, crying, visibly distressed like I've never seen her. 1050 00:48:43,880 --> 00:48:46,480 Speaker 2: We've always spent Christmas with my family, but I agreed 1051 00:48:46,520 --> 00:48:48,560 Speaker 2: that we could do something else. When I called Mom 1052 00:48:48,600 --> 00:48:50,640 Speaker 2: to tell her, she asked if i'd fly out just 1053 00:48:50,680 --> 00:48:53,240 Speaker 2: for Christmas. Eve so low. When I ran that idea 1054 00:48:53,280 --> 00:48:55,080 Speaker 2: by my wife, we got into a huge fight like 1055 00:48:55,160 --> 00:48:58,200 Speaker 2: we've never had before. We rarely fight. It all She 1056 00:48:58,440 --> 00:49:00,479 Speaker 2: was already mad because she is going on a girl's 1057 00:49:00,520 --> 00:49:02,680 Speaker 2: trip next month for a week, and I told her 1058 00:49:02,719 --> 00:49:04,600 Speaker 2: that I was thinking of my youngest brother and his 1059 00:49:04,600 --> 00:49:07,320 Speaker 2: family to visit me at our summer rental while she's away. 1060 00:49:07,560 --> 00:49:10,200 Speaker 2: That did not sit well with her either. Basically, my 1061 00:49:10,239 --> 00:49:12,040 Speaker 2: wife said that she doesn't feel like I have her back, 1062 00:49:12,080 --> 00:49:14,600 Speaker 2: which is not true. I've spoken to my brother about 1063 00:49:14,600 --> 00:49:17,239 Speaker 2: his unacceptable treatment of my wife, and if I see 1064 00:49:17,320 --> 00:49:19,440 Speaker 2: him or his wife insult my wife in front of me, 1065 00:49:19,840 --> 00:49:22,360 Speaker 2: I tell them to knock it off immediately. I know 1066 00:49:22,440 --> 00:49:24,960 Speaker 2: my parents have spoken with them as well, probably more 1067 00:49:25,000 --> 00:49:28,200 Speaker 2: from a peacemaking perspective. My wife is normally a very calm, 1068 00:49:28,280 --> 00:49:30,960 Speaker 2: level headed person, but she gets agitated now whenever my 1069 00:49:31,000 --> 00:49:33,480 Speaker 2: family comes up. I know my brother and his wife 1070 00:49:33,560 --> 00:49:36,399 Speaker 2: are the issue. Everyone I know loves my wife. While 1071 00:49:36,400 --> 00:49:40,080 Speaker 2: my brother has struggled with people periodically. He tries his 1072 00:49:40,120 --> 00:49:42,279 Speaker 2: best and is always trying to get better, but I 1073 00:49:42,320 --> 00:49:44,960 Speaker 2: admit he falls short a lot. When I suggested to 1074 00:49:45,000 --> 00:49:47,480 Speaker 2: my wife that the mean comments would stop once we 1075 00:49:47,560 --> 00:49:50,359 Speaker 2: start our family, she blew up at me again. I've 1076 00:49:50,400 --> 00:49:52,160 Speaker 2: asked my wife if she wants to start trying for 1077 00:49:52,239 --> 00:49:55,160 Speaker 2: children now, and she says no, she'd rather stick to 1078 00:49:55,200 --> 00:49:59,280 Speaker 2: our financial plan. Oh wow, this is changing things big time. 1079 00:50:00,560 --> 00:50:03,480 Speaker 3: Because of a bathtub and some twin bit dude. 1080 00:50:03,719 --> 00:50:05,320 Speaker 2: I asked her if she'd be happier if I was 1081 00:50:05,680 --> 00:50:07,919 Speaker 2: talking to my brother, and she says no, she gets 1082 00:50:07,920 --> 00:50:10,479 Speaker 2: how important the relationship is to me. I'm worried because 1083 00:50:10,480 --> 00:50:13,000 Speaker 2: in her last conversation about Christmas, my wife said something 1084 00:50:13,080 --> 00:50:15,920 Speaker 2: that she's never said before. She said maybe she should 1085 00:50:16,000 --> 00:50:18,520 Speaker 2: leave my family because she knows how important they are 1086 00:50:18,560 --> 00:50:20,480 Speaker 2: to me, and she doesn't want to cause any problems 1087 00:50:20,480 --> 00:50:23,280 Speaker 2: between me and my brother. There's more to this story, 1088 00:50:23,320 --> 00:50:27,200 Speaker 2: but that's that must be so hard for OPI to hear. Yeah, 1089 00:50:27,239 --> 00:50:30,400 Speaker 2: I'm sure because it's yeah, because she's not like doing 1090 00:50:30,440 --> 00:50:33,760 Speaker 2: it maliciously obviously, like she's not like, oh my gosh, 1091 00:50:33,880 --> 00:50:36,160 Speaker 2: you're not standing up for me, you need to do better, 1092 00:50:36,320 --> 00:50:40,840 Speaker 2: like I'm leaving you. It's just she's just feeling so guilty. 1093 00:50:41,000 --> 00:50:42,840 Speaker 3: And this is just like I feel so bad that 1094 00:50:42,880 --> 00:50:45,640 Speaker 3: she feels guilty, because it's like she feels guilty because 1095 00:50:45,640 --> 00:50:50,040 Speaker 3: she wanted a normal bed, treated right nicely, and to 1096 00:50:50,040 --> 00:50:53,359 Speaker 3: not be told that she's like not worthy because she's 1097 00:50:53,400 --> 00:50:54,240 Speaker 3: not a mother. 1098 00:50:54,239 --> 00:50:56,600 Speaker 2: Like yeah, exactly. It's like there's so many things, and 1099 00:50:56,640 --> 00:50:59,360 Speaker 2: it's like she's so nice because she understands that she 1100 00:50:59,440 --> 00:51:01,680 Speaker 2: can't tell him what to do, right, And I think 1101 00:51:01,680 --> 00:51:04,560 Speaker 2: that's just that's just so heavy on her. Obviously, she 1102 00:51:04,600 --> 00:51:07,319 Speaker 2: didn't say divorce outright, but I know that that's what 1103 00:51:07,360 --> 00:51:09,799 Speaker 2: she meant. We smoothed things out for the time being, 1104 00:51:09,840 --> 00:51:11,920 Speaker 2: but I know this is not over. I know I 1105 00:51:11,960 --> 00:51:13,880 Speaker 2: need to talk to my family about this more strongly, 1106 00:51:14,120 --> 00:51:16,239 Speaker 2: but I truly do not want to cut them off. 1107 00:51:16,400 --> 00:51:18,120 Speaker 2: I also don't want to put my parents in and 1108 00:51:18,200 --> 00:51:20,800 Speaker 2: choose us or them situation, because I have a feeling 1109 00:51:20,800 --> 00:51:23,360 Speaker 2: that they choose their granddaughter. Has anyone been in a 1110 00:51:23,400 --> 00:51:25,600 Speaker 2: similar spot and worked it out? I can't be the 1111 00:51:25,640 --> 00:51:28,480 Speaker 2: only one with a mouthy, insecure sibling, can I? And 1112 00:51:28,520 --> 00:51:32,399 Speaker 2: that's the end of that stuff? Wow, dude, Well, personally, no, 1113 00:51:32,480 --> 00:51:33,760 Speaker 2: I've not been in that situation. 1114 00:51:34,320 --> 00:51:35,360 Speaker 3: I don't have siblings. 1115 00:51:35,440 --> 00:51:37,359 Speaker 2: But yeah, I mean, it's it's hard because it's like 1116 00:51:37,480 --> 00:51:40,080 Speaker 2: the only thing I can suggest is just more conversation, 1117 00:51:40,520 --> 00:51:43,360 Speaker 2: but it seems like they've they've had so much conversation already, 1118 00:51:43,680 --> 00:51:46,560 Speaker 2: you know. Yeah, so it's like, obviously that's not working. 1119 00:51:46,880 --> 00:51:50,880 Speaker 3: But maybe I like, maybe not cutting full contact, but 1120 00:51:50,960 --> 00:51:55,040 Speaker 3: some slight distance just to like feel and and his 1121 00:51:55,120 --> 00:51:58,080 Speaker 3: wife like gain back like her own self again a 1122 00:51:58,160 --> 00:51:58,520 Speaker 3: little bit. 1123 00:51:58,600 --> 00:51:59,000 Speaker 1: Yeah. 1124 00:51:59,120 --> 00:52:03,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, I wonder how heated his conversations with the family guy. 1125 00:52:03,480 --> 00:52:05,879 Speaker 2: I don't know if we mentioned he did. Those conversations 1126 00:52:05,880 --> 00:52:09,279 Speaker 2: got already. But wonder if there's like a way to 1127 00:52:09,320 --> 00:52:11,440 Speaker 2: talk again, but just have a more of like a 1128 00:52:11,440 --> 00:52:13,560 Speaker 2: heart to heart kind of thing, which is like guys like, 1129 00:52:13,719 --> 00:52:15,800 Speaker 2: let's like, what do you actually through about her? Like, 1130 00:52:15,880 --> 00:52:18,360 Speaker 2: let's have a calm conversation. And that's the end of 1131 00:52:18,400 --> 00:52:20,279 Speaker 2: this story. We're going on to the next one. 1132 00:52:21,239 --> 00:52:23,200 Speaker 1: John Here, we're gonna get back to this juicy story. 1133 00:52:23,239 --> 00:52:25,240 Speaker 1: But a quick three minute break of aths from our sponsors. 1134 00:52:25,719 --> 00:52:28,799 Speaker 6: My sister tried to ruin my wedding and now she 1135 00:52:28,920 --> 00:52:30,200 Speaker 6: pretends nothing happened. 1136 00:52:30,440 --> 00:52:32,719 Speaker 1: You can't get away with that. 1137 00:52:33,600 --> 00:52:37,560 Speaker 6: My wedding was last December twenty twenty four. I have 1138 00:52:37,640 --> 00:52:40,520 Speaker 6: been with my now husband for ten years. I am 1139 00:52:40,560 --> 00:52:43,000 Speaker 6: thirty one female and my husband is thirty three male. 1140 00:52:43,280 --> 00:52:45,160 Speaker 6: We planned the wedding for just under a year and 1141 00:52:45,200 --> 00:52:47,839 Speaker 6: got married at our workplace. By the way, this comes 1142 00:52:47,840 --> 00:52:50,040 Speaker 6: from Awkward Figures seventy nine to eighty and if you 1143 00:52:50,080 --> 00:52:51,520 Speaker 6: want to spit your own stories, go to the r 1144 00:52:51,560 --> 00:52:53,160 Speaker 6: slash Okay story time severed it. 1145 00:52:53,360 --> 00:52:55,680 Speaker 2: I'm Sophia, I'm Angie. 1146 00:52:55,200 --> 00:52:57,040 Speaker 6: I'm We're here to give good advice, goofily, but we 1147 00:52:57,080 --> 00:52:58,360 Speaker 6: don't have all the answers. 1148 00:52:58,640 --> 00:52:59,799 Speaker 3: We only know what do we do. 1149 00:53:00,040 --> 00:53:01,720 Speaker 6: So let us know what you would do in the commons. 1150 00:53:01,800 --> 00:53:05,400 Speaker 6: It was a beautiful barn wedding with accommodation about twelve 1151 00:53:05,480 --> 00:53:09,160 Speaker 6: rooms and separate house for the bridal party and glamping 1152 00:53:09,239 --> 00:53:12,000 Speaker 6: pod accommodation that could be booked separately. It was a 1153 00:53:12,040 --> 00:53:14,640 Speaker 6: small wedding with less than fifty people through the day, 1154 00:53:15,239 --> 00:53:18,520 Speaker 6: mainly family, with a handful of work friends and close friends. 1155 00:53:18,640 --> 00:53:21,760 Speaker 6: We only had about five kids and they were immediate 1156 00:53:21,800 --> 00:53:25,640 Speaker 6: family and in the wedding party. It was a DIY wedding, 1157 00:53:25,800 --> 00:53:28,840 Speaker 6: lots of stress, mainly on me for decor and organizing 1158 00:53:28,920 --> 00:53:30,880 Speaker 6: vendors while I'm studying for a degree. 1159 00:53:31,000 --> 00:53:31,920 Speaker 1: I was so. 1160 00:53:31,760 --> 00:53:35,160 Speaker 6: Excited important info. My husband and I work at the 1161 00:53:35,160 --> 00:53:38,359 Speaker 6: wedding venue, so obviously we know the rules inside and out. 1162 00:53:38,480 --> 00:53:40,000 Speaker 2: Dogs are allowed. 1163 00:53:39,600 --> 00:53:42,480 Speaker 6: But we made it very clear that only our dog 1164 00:53:42,600 --> 00:53:44,799 Speaker 6: and my dad's dog, who is ten years old and 1165 00:53:44,800 --> 00:53:46,719 Speaker 6: who I bought for my dad when I still lived 1166 00:53:46,719 --> 00:53:48,960 Speaker 6: at home, were allowed to come. I said this as 1167 00:53:49,040 --> 00:53:51,000 Speaker 6: soon as we booked the venue. Because I have two 1168 00:53:51,040 --> 00:53:53,920 Speaker 6: sisters and one brother, and my husband has a sister. 1169 00:53:54,080 --> 00:53:56,440 Speaker 6: Out of them, all three of our siblings have dogs. 1170 00:53:56,840 --> 00:54:00,320 Speaker 6: My sister Liz and my husband's sister Sarah both asked 1171 00:54:00,400 --> 00:54:03,319 Speaker 6: to bring their dogs. I said sorry, but I did 1172 00:54:03,320 --> 00:54:06,160 Speaker 6: not want the stress of five dogs running around my 1173 00:54:06,440 --> 00:54:08,920 Speaker 6: big day. It would be too chaotic, and I did 1174 00:54:08,920 --> 00:54:11,560 Speaker 6: not want to be worrying about my dog. He's rubbish 1175 00:54:11,560 --> 00:54:14,000 Speaker 6: with other dogs at times. He's been to different trainers, 1176 00:54:14,000 --> 00:54:16,160 Speaker 6: but nothing has really worked. He either loves them or 1177 00:54:16,200 --> 00:54:18,799 Speaker 6: hates them. Honestly, I just didn't want the stress. And 1178 00:54:18,840 --> 00:54:20,879 Speaker 6: I also had a surprise plan for me, which could 1179 00:54:20,880 --> 00:54:23,520 Speaker 6: become an issue if there were other dogs around. Everyone 1180 00:54:23,600 --> 00:54:26,520 Speaker 6: seems to be fine with this and had organized dog sitters, 1181 00:54:27,200 --> 00:54:30,480 Speaker 6: or so I thought. Five days before the wedding, Liz 1182 00:54:30,520 --> 00:54:33,600 Speaker 6: messages me asking if she can bring her dogs. Tried 1183 00:54:33,640 --> 00:54:36,160 Speaker 6: to be very forceful with her opinions and pushed her 1184 00:54:36,200 --> 00:54:40,160 Speaker 6: thoughts about my traditional wedding it was not traditional. At 1185 00:54:40,200 --> 00:54:42,520 Speaker 6: one point, she tried to supply the buffet as a 1186 00:54:42,560 --> 00:54:45,360 Speaker 6: wedding gift, and thank goodness, I had secretly booked and 1187 00:54:45,600 --> 00:54:48,960 Speaker 6: paid for the Indian buffet myself because she had her 1188 00:54:48,960 --> 00:54:51,239 Speaker 6: asked me, and I knew she would have tried to 1189 00:54:51,280 --> 00:54:53,719 Speaker 6: control even that. She basically told me that if her 1190 00:54:53,719 --> 00:54:56,719 Speaker 6: dog cannot come, then our family cannot come because she 1191 00:54:56,800 --> 00:54:58,720 Speaker 6: cannot afford a dog sitter. 1192 00:54:58,800 --> 00:55:00,399 Speaker 2: How does that work? Do you just have to stay 1193 00:55:00,400 --> 00:55:02,200 Speaker 2: home all the time? Then are you never allowed to 1194 00:55:02,239 --> 00:55:03,279 Speaker 2: go anywhere ever? 1195 00:55:03,480 --> 00:55:05,479 Speaker 6: She also said she would leave him in the room 1196 00:55:05,520 --> 00:55:07,920 Speaker 6: and walk him throughout the day. I said no. I 1197 00:55:08,000 --> 00:55:10,320 Speaker 6: did speak to my husband, and he is very kind 1198 00:55:10,400 --> 00:55:12,680 Speaker 6: and caring and laid back, but he put his foot 1199 00:55:12,719 --> 00:55:13,560 Speaker 6: down and said. 1200 00:55:13,320 --> 00:55:13,879 Speaker 1: No as well. 1201 00:55:14,080 --> 00:55:17,040 Speaker 6: Y'all had a lot of time to figure that out. 1202 00:55:17,280 --> 00:55:20,240 Speaker 6: Gotta figure it out, dude. Liz actually had her brother 1203 00:55:20,239 --> 00:55:23,759 Speaker 6: in law's brother lined up to let the dog out 1204 00:55:23,800 --> 00:55:26,000 Speaker 6: and feed him, but she didn't want to leave him overnight, 1205 00:55:26,080 --> 00:55:28,120 Speaker 6: which is fair. I don't think that you should leave 1206 00:55:28,120 --> 00:55:30,759 Speaker 6: a dog alone overnight, not a cat. Cats are much 1207 00:55:30,800 --> 00:55:33,960 Speaker 6: more independent. I came up with many solutions. She does 1208 00:55:34,040 --> 00:55:36,759 Speaker 6: not drink, so she could leave after the ceremony. She 1209 00:55:36,840 --> 00:55:39,040 Speaker 6: still had not paid for her room. I had covered 1210 00:55:39,040 --> 00:55:41,040 Speaker 6: it to hold the room. She then said none of 1211 00:55:41,040 --> 00:55:43,160 Speaker 6: her kids wanted to come either if she could not come, 1212 00:55:43,280 --> 00:55:45,440 Speaker 6: and I knew that wasn't true because her youngest was 1213 00:55:45,480 --> 00:55:48,120 Speaker 6: a flower girl and so excited the girls and asked 1214 00:55:48,120 --> 00:55:50,200 Speaker 6: to come with her grant. Day before the wedding, I 1215 00:55:50,320 --> 00:55:52,920 Speaker 6: was scrambling to set up the barn and do a 1216 00:55:53,040 --> 00:55:56,320 Speaker 6: barn and do run throughs. My brother picked up the girls. 1217 00:55:56,520 --> 00:55:59,520 Speaker 6: The oldest never came, which is fine, because what teenager 1218 00:55:59,560 --> 00:55:59,960 Speaker 6: wants to come. 1219 00:56:00,000 --> 00:56:00,640 Speaker 2: I'm alone. 1220 00:56:00,840 --> 00:56:05,120 Speaker 6: Everyone arrived, my husband's family, my family from New Zealand 1221 00:56:05,120 --> 00:56:07,759 Speaker 6: and England, and then Liz texts saying her husband needs 1222 00:56:07,800 --> 00:56:10,359 Speaker 6: to drop off stuff for the girls. I said yes, 1223 00:56:10,520 --> 00:56:12,359 Speaker 6: and I asked if she was sure she didn't want 1224 00:56:12,360 --> 00:56:14,640 Speaker 6: to come because I was doing the seating plan. She 1225 00:56:14,800 --> 00:56:17,360 Speaker 6: still said no. An hour goes by and I have 1226 00:56:17,440 --> 00:56:22,160 Speaker 6: been working NonStop, and who walks in Liz with the 1227 00:56:22,320 --> 00:56:27,360 Speaker 6: dog off the lead running around. She ends up arguing 1228 00:56:27,400 --> 00:56:30,200 Speaker 6: with Aunties. I see my dad's dog off the lead too, 1229 00:56:30,440 --> 00:56:32,960 Speaker 6: and I run out to grab her and Liz shouts 1230 00:56:32,960 --> 00:56:35,239 Speaker 6: at me. I go back inside because I'm trying to 1231 00:56:35,280 --> 00:56:38,719 Speaker 6: talk to my humanist person marrying me. Liz does not 1232 00:56:38,800 --> 00:56:41,400 Speaker 6: come speak to me or apologize for anything. 1233 00:56:41,520 --> 00:56:42,040 Speaker 3: She said. 1234 00:56:42,120 --> 00:56:44,840 Speaker 6: She called me a selfish brat. Said, I am pathetic 1235 00:56:45,080 --> 00:56:47,120 Speaker 6: that I do not understand how the world works. 1236 00:56:47,600 --> 00:56:48,320 Speaker 4: She was cruel. 1237 00:56:48,480 --> 00:56:51,000 Speaker 6: I am the youngest by eight years. She is the 1238 00:56:51,040 --> 00:56:53,880 Speaker 6: middle sister, and her oldest sister is eleven years older 1239 00:56:53,920 --> 00:56:57,440 Speaker 6: than me. I have always been responsible. I looked after 1240 00:56:57,560 --> 00:57:00,160 Speaker 6: all her kids and my oldest sister's kids are the 1241 00:57:00,239 --> 00:57:02,680 Speaker 6: years when I was a teen, Whenever I was told to, 1242 00:57:03,200 --> 00:57:05,720 Speaker 6: I'm always the one who loans the money or shows 1243 00:57:05,800 --> 00:57:06,880 Speaker 6: up when they need something. 1244 00:57:07,040 --> 00:57:07,560 Speaker 2: Always. 1245 00:57:08,000 --> 00:57:10,400 Speaker 6: I saw my dad's dog off the lead, which should 1246 00:57:10,480 --> 00:57:13,120 Speaker 6: not happen. Dogs should always be on a lead at 1247 00:57:13,120 --> 00:57:16,240 Speaker 6: my workplace, and I knew she only came to cause 1248 00:57:16,480 --> 00:57:19,520 Speaker 6: true reuble. I hid and cried because I couldn't handle 1249 00:57:19,520 --> 00:57:21,160 Speaker 6: the atmosphere and the gas lighting. 1250 00:57:21,320 --> 00:57:22,600 Speaker 3: Is this the day of your wedding? 1251 00:57:22,800 --> 00:57:25,200 Speaker 2: I believe it is. Oh my goodness. 1252 00:57:25,720 --> 00:57:29,120 Speaker 6: My brother saw me crying and heard Liz attacking his partner, 1253 00:57:29,560 --> 00:57:32,360 Speaker 6: and he completely lost it on Liz. He told her 1254 00:57:32,400 --> 00:57:35,440 Speaker 6: to leave and reminded her she made her decision. He 1255 00:57:35,520 --> 00:57:38,240 Speaker 6: and his partner helped me so much, sat with me, 1256 00:57:38,680 --> 00:57:39,600 Speaker 6: helped me make a plan. 1257 00:57:39,920 --> 00:57:40,480 Speaker 2: Morning of the. 1258 00:57:40,400 --> 00:57:43,040 Speaker 6: Wedding, I was calm. I walked down the aisle to 1259 00:57:43,160 --> 00:57:46,160 Speaker 6: Young and Beautiful by Lonna del Rey, and it was perfect. 1260 00:57:46,280 --> 00:57:49,160 Speaker 6: After the ceremony, we did photos and my best man 1261 00:57:49,240 --> 00:57:52,480 Speaker 6: and dad disappeared with the dogs. And then a baby 1262 00:57:52,560 --> 00:57:55,400 Speaker 6: Highland cow appeared. Oh my gosh, are you guys in 1263 00:57:55,440 --> 00:57:56,320 Speaker 6: like Scotland? 1264 00:57:56,680 --> 00:57:57,040 Speaker 2: Lucky? 1265 00:57:57,320 --> 00:57:59,280 Speaker 6: What are you Scotland right now? 1266 00:58:00,000 --> 00:58:00,200 Speaker 1: Oh? 1267 00:58:00,280 --> 00:58:01,640 Speaker 2: Lucky? I love them. 1268 00:58:01,880 --> 00:58:04,360 Speaker 6: I got to feed it and cuddle it and take pictures. 1269 00:58:04,480 --> 00:58:07,520 Speaker 6: During dinner, I noticed we were missing four people because 1270 00:58:07,560 --> 00:58:10,280 Speaker 6: Liz took her daughter and her husband did not stay either. 1271 00:58:10,440 --> 00:58:13,480 Speaker 6: My grandpa canceled the night before because he was unwell, 1272 00:58:13,520 --> 00:58:15,800 Speaker 6: which cannot be helped. Later I found out Liz had 1273 00:58:15,840 --> 00:58:18,720 Speaker 6: been messaging my older sister asking what dress to wear 1274 00:58:18,760 --> 00:58:21,960 Speaker 6: to my wedding, and sent pictures of a dress basically 1275 00:58:22,080 --> 00:58:26,160 Speaker 6: identical to my bride'smaid dresses. My older sister showed up 1276 00:58:26,200 --> 00:58:29,120 Speaker 6: my brother and he had words. I think if she 1277 00:58:29,160 --> 00:58:31,480 Speaker 6: had come, she would have tried to cause a scene. 1278 00:58:31,880 --> 00:58:33,840 Speaker 6: There is a little bit left to the story. Any 1279 00:58:33,840 --> 00:58:34,560 Speaker 6: final thoughts. 1280 00:58:34,640 --> 00:58:36,760 Speaker 2: I feel like we should just be like yo, Liz. 1281 00:58:36,960 --> 00:58:39,760 Speaker 2: I mean, I guess the way yo Liz, So we'd 1282 00:58:39,800 --> 00:58:43,360 Speaker 2: be like yo Liz. What's the freaking deal, Liz girl, 1283 00:58:43,720 --> 00:58:46,840 Speaker 2: If you don't want to be at my wedding and 1284 00:58:47,240 --> 00:58:49,800 Speaker 2: are at my wedding acting like this and bring me 1285 00:58:49,920 --> 00:58:52,400 Speaker 2: my wedding and stuff, maybe you shouldn't be at my wedding. 1286 00:58:52,520 --> 00:58:54,840 Speaker 2: I wanted you there, but then he started acting crazy. 1287 00:58:55,080 --> 00:58:57,439 Speaker 6: Yeah, I don't like you. I don't like your dog. Yeah, 1288 00:58:57,440 --> 00:58:59,400 Speaker 6: I don't like your dress. Well I do like your dress, 1289 00:58:59,400 --> 00:58:59,960 Speaker 6: but only in my bread. 1290 00:59:00,520 --> 00:59:03,600 Speaker 4: Yeah exactly, And that's it by liz Bie Liss. 1291 00:59:03,600 --> 00:59:06,280 Speaker 2: Gonna be really weird for you to be a bridesmaid 1292 00:59:06,560 --> 00:59:08,120 Speaker 2: to us and then sitting in the crowd. 1293 00:59:08,280 --> 00:59:10,360 Speaker 6: Yeah the good you feel pretty silly? 1294 00:59:10,480 --> 00:59:11,440 Speaker 2: Fold your king? 1295 00:59:11,800 --> 00:59:14,240 Speaker 6: Should I have just given in? Now a year later, 1296 00:59:14,280 --> 00:59:17,080 Speaker 6: she has not apologized and our relationship is basically gone. 1297 00:59:17,080 --> 00:59:19,640 Speaker 6: She messages me like nothing happened, but I don't trust her. 1298 00:59:19,720 --> 00:59:21,800 Speaker 6: I was hurt. I always just did as I was 1299 00:59:21,840 --> 00:59:23,840 Speaker 6: told and never stood up for myself. Don't know if 1300 00:59:23,840 --> 00:59:26,760 Speaker 6: I'll ever get over it. One common asks as she 1301 00:59:26,880 --> 00:59:28,720 Speaker 6: wanted to be the center of attention, like when you 1302 00:59:28,800 --> 00:59:31,320 Speaker 6: guys were kids and growing up, and Opie says, she's 1303 00:59:31,360 --> 00:59:33,800 Speaker 6: eight years older, so I never really noticed it before. 1304 00:59:34,080 --> 00:59:36,040 Speaker 6: When I became a teen, she had my nephew, and 1305 00:59:36,080 --> 00:59:37,840 Speaker 6: I looked after him a lot. Then she gained a 1306 00:59:37,840 --> 00:59:39,920 Speaker 6: lot of weight. She's always been it's her way or 1307 00:59:40,000 --> 00:59:42,040 Speaker 6: no way, if that makes sense. I always thought she 1308 00:59:42,080 --> 00:59:44,360 Speaker 6: was bipolar because she would just scream at me to 1309 00:59:44,360 --> 00:59:46,520 Speaker 6: do stuff, and I was very sensitive, so I would 1310 00:59:46,600 --> 00:59:48,880 Speaker 6: cry and that would piss her off more. She recently 1311 00:59:48,880 --> 00:59:53,080 Speaker 6: had a gastric bypass than mummy makeover, and after that 1312 00:59:53,160 --> 00:59:55,560 Speaker 6: she started on me about my weight and appearance. But 1313 00:59:55,640 --> 00:59:58,480 Speaker 6: the woman hasn't changed her lifestyle, just can't eat much 1314 00:59:58,520 --> 01:00:00,560 Speaker 6: and now is on a weight loss diet. She and 1315 01:00:00,600 --> 01:00:02,320 Speaker 6: my mom came to my dress fitting and. 1316 01:00:02,240 --> 01:00:03,080 Speaker 1: It was horrible. 1317 01:00:03,360 --> 01:00:05,600 Speaker 3: That dressed is nothing for you. You can see all your 1318 01:00:05,680 --> 01:00:06,560 Speaker 3: lumps and bumps. 1319 01:00:06,680 --> 01:00:08,560 Speaker 6: My best friend knew what they were like, but even 1320 01:00:08,640 --> 01:00:11,480 Speaker 6: she was shocked and angry. I have distance myself and 1321 01:00:11,560 --> 01:00:13,680 Speaker 6: don't go out of my way to speak to her. 1322 01:00:13,800 --> 01:00:15,960 Speaker 6: But my dad got upset about how the family is 1323 01:00:16,120 --> 01:00:19,200 Speaker 6: breaking apart. So I'm civil and always nice, and Opie 1324 01:00:19,200 --> 01:00:22,520 Speaker 6: says she's got main character syndrome. Not sure why I 1325 01:00:22,560 --> 01:00:25,360 Speaker 6: struggle with enforcing boundaries. They always make me feel like 1326 01:00:25,360 --> 01:00:27,920 Speaker 6: a small child again, even though I'm thirty one, Not 1327 01:00:27,960 --> 01:00:30,720 Speaker 6: gonna lie. She's done so much shady stuff to me 1328 01:00:30,840 --> 01:00:33,800 Speaker 6: and other family members. I wouldn't be surprised if she 1329 01:00:34,080 --> 01:00:37,000 Speaker 6: is self absorbed, but who knows what's going on inside 1330 01:00:37,040 --> 01:00:40,480 Speaker 6: her brain? And that is the end of that story. 1331 01:00:40,720 --> 01:00:42,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean like she wrecked. 1332 01:00:42,040 --> 01:00:45,200 Speaker 6: That relationship and it sucks, but not much that you 1333 01:00:45,280 --> 01:00:45,600 Speaker 6: can do. 1334 01:00:45,800 --> 01:00:48,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's that's very unfortunate that she's just like an 1335 01:00:48,960 --> 01:00:53,200 Speaker 2: awful person, sucks, so insecure in taking her insecurities out 1336 01:00:53,240 --> 01:00:55,000 Speaker 2: on you.