It’s not even eight o’clock and I worry where the day will lead when a fight gets picked within six minutes of waking up. My instinct is to run. In my jammies and sock footed to get in my car and get away from here.
It seems as though I have a tone that sounds accusatory and inappropriate when speaking to YBW. I feel sure it wasn’t my tone, more the subject matter.
Or perhaps the fact that I had an opinion about the subject matter at all.
Or perhaps the fact that he’s felt belittled his entire life and I’ve spent mine struggling to be heard has the most to do with it. I tend to say things over and in different ways because I have a real and desperate need to feel heard. He tends to hear everything as some sort of condemnation, that he’s simply not right or good enough.
This can, on occasion, be a difficult way to communicate.
This morning was one of those times.
As I write this, I am actively fighting my instinct to run. That anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach, the fiery feeling in my brain stem screaming at me to get out and go someplace safe.
Before it’s all over, I suspect I’ll end up with a headache but I can handle that.
It’s not the first time this week there’s been a breakdown in communication that caused a fight. Lately I don’t feel like I can express myself unless I’m very careful to censor the subject matter. This of course triggers my deeply rooted and insecure hot buttons.
I believe it’s mostly about subject matter with YBW and I’ve considered just removing certain subjects from our conversations. Only that’s not a realistic way to live…or communicate. So I watch my tone and try to be honest. I try not to make him feel criticized or attacked in any way.
It’s still censorship.
Kindness is uniquely important…therefore not really censorship? I don’t actually know.
I don’t think YBW is an ass, or stupid, or any of the other things I occasionally get accused of. I think we hear what we’ve been conditioned to hear. We ALL hear what we’ve been conditioned to hear.
I have worked hard to show him I do not think those negative things about him with the sincere hope he will one day know that.
I’m struggling with this life.
I left my life to come be in his life with him with the plan it would become our life.
I have to “parent” two kids that are not mine. Who were raised completely differently than I know how to raise children. So I adapt to the way they do things in this family.
It’s hard. It makes me sad sometimes.
I feel like I’ve had to make all the sacrifices to be in this relationship. (He has made huge financial sacrifices, but the rest of his life pretty much got to stay the same.)
I always knew I would be the one who would assimilate into his life. There was never any question of that for simple logistics, his younger son, his home and employer.
I guess I didn’t realize it would be quite so hard.
It’s painful to feel I gave up everything to make a new life. I always felt it was going to be a better life, so that made the initial pain easier to stomach. I guess I just didn’t realize it would continue to feel that way.
Is it because I’m all settled and we’re comfortable? Is it because neither of us is on “our best behavior” anymore?
I feel like the life I chose, my life, the one I chose when I was twenty years old…however awful it became…was mine. By my own design.
This life is me trying to fit into the life someone else designed.
I deserve the chance to make it mine too.
Yesterday I watched the people in my life sit on the sofa while I made sure we had proper Thanksgiving dinner for their family.
I was asked if I need help, I was asked for specific directions.
I’m not a general. I don’t want to bark orders.
I want people to take initiative…or at the very least get up off their ass and stand in the kitchen with me so I don’t feel like everybody’s bitch.
I don’t think I’m unreasonable. And I can assure you I’ve examined that possibility.
I’m sitting on the sofa with tears on my face and Thing G is worried and comes to hug me.
That innocent kindness is unconditional love.
Unconditional love eludes some of us it’s something we never truly feel. That breaks my heart. I know I have it to give it’s not often that I receive it.
Love is a curious thing.
My heart still feels black but I see light nearer to me.
therobynbirdsnest 
I am so sorry that you have had a Black Friday. I hope that although you didn’t feel that the Thanksgiving meal went smoothly that you did enjoy some moments with two families there. I feel badly about your life, it is a hard one, I think.
I have been married three times, each time I gave much more of my heart and emotions than the other one, you will know when the balance is totally off kilter and know if it is necessary you will survive with your own voice, opinions and self. You can find it within this situation, which being a ‘giver’ like me, I do think you understand his background and feelings. But you both need to be able to work as a team. I will hope and pray that for the ones who love you, Thing G included, you may find a peaceful way to live as a family.
Hugs and hope fills my heart for your December…. Robin
Since my separation I have pondered the “relationship success” requirements versus the “be true self” requirements and have found the boundaries rather blurred. The ‘struggling to be heard’ resonates with me deeply. You appear to have made great sacrifices to enter this relationship and I do hope that you are able to find that sense of peace that you deserve.
The days and occasions that are meant to be the most joyful are often the most stressful. I hope Christmas is better.
Ladies, I thank each of you for your kind words.
It’s a curious road I’m traveling and I guess it was only a matter of time for it to become rough. YBW and I were trapped in the car together most of the day yesterday and talked a lot, so I feel like we’re figuring out how to navigate the roughness together more successfully. Everything isn’t “fine” but it doesn’t feel icky anymore.
❤ Robynbird