Sandi's right- try to keep centered. Always give yourself some time and post here before you decide to do anything at all. It's amazing how your thoughts will shift after taking some extra time. Usually anything in the heat of the moment will be regretted later
Thanks Sandi. You are absolutely right. I do feel like I need to do something. I will sit tight until I have a plan that makes sense.
Me: 45 WAW: 45 | M22 | T25 | No Kids Nov 09 W Filed | Dec 09 Separation Mar 17 2010 Divorce Papers Signed | Divorce Hearing Cancelled Moved back home May 2010 PA Confirmed June 2010 | W left Dec 7 2010
Hello All. Just a quick update. The wife has a rare three-day weekend and has suggested we do something-go somewhere-an overnight trip. We have plans to leave Saturday morning, stay overnight, and return Sunday. I feel like I should take advantage of every opportunity to have positive interactions with her. However, the ticking-time-bomb sensation can make this difficult at times.
Me: 45 WAW: 45 | M22 | T25 | No Kids Nov 09 W Filed | Dec 09 Separation Mar 17 2010 Divorce Papers Signed | Divorce Hearing Cancelled Moved back home May 2010 PA Confirmed June 2010 | W left Dec 7 2010
I had a divorce busting coaching session this afternoon. It went very well. It wasn't new information but talking one-on-one with someone helps. Having someone (a live voice) on my team felt good.
The advice I received was as follows (paraphrased of course ) . . .
Continue with GAL activities and become less available than you are currently.
Make the most of opportunities for positive interaction. Be upbeat and positive. Its important to avoid the heaviness (apparently heaviness was evident in my voice) - look for opportunities for laughter.
I asked about staying put or moving home, and whether or not to furnish the apartment. I was advised to furnish the apartment. Make it look as if you are ready to move on (even if you don't feel ready to move on). Basically, do what I would do if I were newly single and moving on.
I talked about how sometimes things feel like they are going well and then suddenly she starts tinkering with the divorce bomb. The coach pointed out that when a WAW spouse feels like she is letting her guard down, she will often get cold feet and put up her defenses again. Thinking back on recent events, it seems this is what has happened.
I also talked about how her actions (often warm and caring) do not match her words ( "I have no feelings for you" ). The coach said "trust the actions more than the words" and "her mind is sometimes in a fantasy land."
The coach didn't feel it was important to snoop for proof of communication with the OM. This knowledge wouldn't change my strategy and what I found could make it more difficult to carry out.
Any thoughts?
Me: 45 WAW: 45 | M22 | T25 | No Kids Nov 09 W Filed | Dec 09 Separation Mar 17 2010 Divorce Papers Signed | Divorce Hearing Cancelled Moved back home May 2010 PA Confirmed June 2010 | W left Dec 7 2010
This sounds like a great session! Don't you feel better now that you have a friendly voice and a plan?
Thank you for sharing the "trust the actions more than the words" information. My H's actions differ greatly from his words, and this helps me see that things are not as bleak as they sometimes seem.
Wifey came over for dinner. We drank some wine, watched the olympics . . . I just walked her back to her apartment.
Don't know how this will work out but I am doing all I can do.
Me: 45 WAW: 45 | M22 | T25 | No Kids Nov 09 W Filed | Dec 09 Separation Mar 17 2010 Divorce Papers Signed | Divorce Hearing Cancelled Moved back home May 2010 PA Confirmed June 2010 | W left Dec 7 2010