Keeping My Eye on the Sparrow

[TimeHeals]

So... she's angry? I have never told anybody not to protect themselves. Never, not once. In fact, I recommend that they do protect themselves and their children and make building a better life for themselves and their children their focus when a marriage is in trouble.

Do you think this anger is making your STBXW happy? The root of all anger is fear... if you dig deep enough. Sometimes it's rational, and sometimes it's not, but for whatever reason... she's afraid of something, and like a scared, angry child... she's lashing out at you.

I think that covers the empathy angle except to re-iterate: she's not lost in some fog, she's not some alien, but she is a scared and angry human whose perspective doesn't appear to be really making her happy, and she blames you for whatever reason(s) she thinks she has.

Protect yourself by all means. Protect your kids. Live a good life and deal with what you must, but don't fall into the same kind of trap she has fallen into.