Another one joins the flock (Part II)

[Mike85]

momof2girls:

Ahhhh, patience. So hard at times. But thank God I actually went for the new job and got it - it has not only perked up my spirits and reinvigorated me professionally, but it has occupied my time and mind in a productive way. I don't have TIME to dwell on wife and OM most days. Makes patience with my situation a little easier. I've told people, including my counselor, that it's amazing that something so positive could have been sparked by the worst crisis I've faced to this point in my life.

And, as you pointed out, wife and OM are early in their relationship. But, thanks to mutual friends and my in-laws, I've heard that some of the luster is fading already. Apparently, wife is discovering that the issue of late work nights and career stress didn't go away just b/c she moved out. And, of course, there are our kids, who no longer are on their best behavior anymore around OM. Nor are the kids impressed by him: they were gabbing (as a 9-year-old and 3-year-old will...) with a new coworker of mine, and I overheard my oldest son say that "my mommy has had to yell at [OM] for laying around the house and eating all the food" and that she's tired of having to keep going to the store b/c he's "eating all the groceries". Then my youngest chimed in with "yeah, [OM] is fat." Made me chuckle. It's petty, I'll admit, but I love the honesty of kids. (by the way, before some scold jumps in, I DO NOT talk badly about OM to the kids or have them spy on OM/wife or anything like that...kids just say the darndest things)

Whenever I get a little bummed about missing my wife, I just remind myself how early things truly are and how far we've come - I mean, right after wife dropped the bomb, she expressed a seething hatred of me and said my touch made her skin crawl... and now we're friends who exchange hugs and kisses and enjoyable conversations.

We still have a long way to go, however, and I just need to exercise that patience thing that you all keep mentioning...