B - Let me offer you some hope. My daughters were 8 and 6 when my XW left. Both were old enough to understand what was going on and my oldest still struggles with it. My XW wedding dress too is hanging in the spare bedroom closest next to all of our family photos. I still live in the same house we shared as a family, were my daughters grew up, and where we know all the neighbors. So I get it.
It took me 6 months before I felt like I could relatively function again. Now almost 1.5 years later I am glad that I still live in our old family home, I am glad the we still have the same neighbors, I am glad that my daughters still get to live in it and I was fortunate enough to be able to keep it, I am glad that some of those memories still remain, I actually draw strength from it because it reminds me every day of what a week person she is, how selfish she is, and how she is a complete fool. It fuels me and it drives me every day to be the best man I can be.
Yes....sometimes this board can become painful and you see new people showing up every day but some how, some way you have pick yourself up off the ground, dust yourself, and start moving forward. Only you can do that for yourself, that is something the board can't do for you.
I am 1.5 years into my ordeal and for the most part my xw is a distant memory. My daughters are happy, enjoying sports, their friends, and while there was an adjustment period they are moving forward as well. I am now interacting with other women, using my dbing skills, confident, happy, and looking forward to finding a partner that wants to put the time in to grow a relationship. If you put in the time and work I guarantee you that you will come out of this stronger than ever!
Try to focus on the positives, try to not look in the rearview mirror, continue to focus on yourself and your kid, be thankful for all that you have, accept your old marriage is over, and realize that this is all a learning experience. You just have to believe that for whatever reason this is your path but something greater is waiting for you in time.
