Just finished reading the entire thread...wow You have been nailed and hammered...BUT you deserved it...
What I see is what is very common in highly successful men/women (i.e. doctors, lawyers, etc.), though not all, is that they have a certain set of ideals... the wife, the 2 kids, the dog, the cat, the house with the white picket fence...gotta have those THINGS to be counted as successful...to complete the picture
Now you are being faced with losing those THINGS...are you going to value and cherish them now? Why now and not before? Why did it take so long to wish you could be there for your childs first tooth to fall out? Is it the family you miss or the idea of your family leaving you and somehow making you look less successful?
Bradley...there is always hope...even for you...BUT you have to do as others have advised...you have to own your mistakes...correct your course...and move forward with your best foot...and most of all you have to WANT it with all your heart...
As you can see most of us would not have any problem with your "choice"...my H left us for nearly 2 years with very little contact...he said I prevented him from seeing our son...yet it was me that was leaving messages about school plays, special events, etc...he never replied...he was busy trying to be successful and felt he had already failed us...my son started to pretend he didn't have a dad...how sad is that? Do you want your son's to pretend you don't exist?
We could tell you story after story about the father who chose his career, his new wife, whatever...over his children...but the bottom line is you have to really, really, really want this with all your heart (being a cardiac surgeon you should know this organ well)...because anything less won't be enough for your children...and it won't be enough for a marriage...even a second, third, or fourth...because until you get it right you will continue to repeat the problem.
