My STBXW cannot deal with most situations without resorting to anger. This morning she had to take S10 to an appointment. S10 is not yet really independent in terms of going through his morning routine without constant reminders and prodding. STBXW doesn't fully realize this, since I've always handled the morning routine.
She got frustrated with S10 not eating his breakfast and threatened to turn the TV off. Then she said "Holding, turn the TV off".
My response, delivered cool and calm: "I'm not taking orders from you, W". I swear, I think those may be the most meaningful words I've ever said to her.
After a minute, she got up and stormed over to the remote to turn the TV off herself. Then she berated S10 for his behavior.
A few minutes later she said it was time for S10 to go, though he was not finished breakfast. She got in her car and then proceeded to honk the horn every few minutes. This is not new behavior, but it used to send the old NG me into panic mode, trying to get someone out the house. But this time I just sat in the kitchen and told S10 that he should probably get going.
I'm so glad I'll be free from this kind of behavior, and from the emotional weight of being intertwined with it. But I do feel bad for my kids, who will continue to have to deal with her raging. I won't be around to insulate them from it.
Me-47,XW-43 S13,S16 M:18 BD:4-23-17 W filed:7-17-17 (5 months of in-house separation hell) W moved out:1-6-18 D granted:2-15-18 Decree signed:3-29-18
