Got home to an answering machine message of my dad almost sobbing and it finally cut off because he couldn't even talk. As his daughter it REALLY hurt.
H looked at me panicked and I said "wish me good luck"... he did and raced for the garage to "work on stuff." So I called Dad back. He said "I'm so sorry, I'm better now" but he was still crying, and we talked for over an hour. Proud of myself for calming him down... and not losing it (esp. when he talked about how he almost couldn't calm himself down and did the "unthinkable"). H was proud too but I know my Dad's bipolar kinda scares him so it was cool that was proud and not running for the hills. At least, so I hope.
I just wish I knew HOW to handle this stuff better. Gist of it was Dad found out his STBWX (my stepmom) is dating... Dad went to a movie tonight and couldn't stop picturing her "with" the men in the movies. (um yeah Dad.. I really DON'T want to hear about that!!). I mostly did the "I'm sorry, that sounds really tough.. sooo.." thing and talked about OTHER topics. A little about his feelings but he's VERY caught up in the physical part and frankly it's icky to me to be talking to my Dad (or his X, or STBX) about sexlives!
Changed the subject as often as possible to positives for my Dad and/or Sis... hope it was enough.
Me 35, H 38; Together 13.5 yrs, M 7 Bomb 1 10/07/06 Sep'd 1/14/07 - 4/15 Piecing: 4/07 - 9/07 Bomb 3 10/11/07: Never loved you, let's separate 2/08 slowly improving 7/08 Piecing (7/25/08 rings back on!!) Current thread
As his daughter it REALLY hurt.