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What to do with the rest of my life?

I've been served divorce papers only two weeks ago, but the story goes like this. When I was 26 and my wife 24 we were trying to conceive a child. There were difficulties and she had to go through operations to be ready for conception. It took two years and in the process our relationship became shaky. We agreed not to divorce but to proceed with conception and deal with issues after the birth. After conception there were pregnancy complications and starting from 2nd month she was on bed-rest first at home and then in the hospital. As soon as the children (twins) were born (full term thankfully) her father (52 year old) was diagnosed with cancer and died within 2 months. Then after 2 months her father's father died. I took 1 month paternity leave to be with the family right after the birth. Unfortunately, when I returned to work my job (that I had for 6 years) was gone but the employer was nice and let me take a different job. We hired an experienced 24hr live in babysitter to help her with the kids. It seems like she was depressed (although at that time I had no clue what depression was) as she could not get along with any babysitters and either fired them each month or they left because they could not handle her constant criticism. He mother came after work to help out. She did not want my parents to be around. After her father's death she declared a year of mourning (eliminating all interaction with the world - no socializing, no movies, no time off, no holidays). So that was a second year when on back-burner because of higher priority issues. By the end of the year I picked up the depression and was no longer able to work. I spent a month at my parent's place to recover since it was very bad. When I got better I met with my wife and got a sense that she still loved me and so I returned home and started working. Unfortunately, after about 6 months the illness kicked in again and I had to go on temporary medical leave again. I offered to switch places (i.e. me being home with the kids and her working as she was in a much better shape). She did not take it and so after a few months I returned back to work (on medications). She enrolled into an MBA program. I put effort into trying to revive our relationship -- buying cards, flowers, helping around the house (when I work I'm out of the house between 8am and 8pm -- so the only times when I could help were weekends), trying to get her to go to marriage counseling. She refused to go. Now it's been 4 years since she stopped working. Over these years she did not do any housework, not even cooking warm meal for the kids. Her mother did the work on her days off and in the evenings. My wife is an Ivy League college graduate, is very bright and is good at coaching kids and making sure that they communicate well and play nicely. As the companies reduce the workforce (and I've been back and forth because of the illness) I was informed about the upcoming possibility of them letting me go. I shared it with her.

I tried to get her to go to marriage counseling many times, but she was not interested and recently announced that did not have any feelings for me and it was time to split.

Now the problem.

It's not the fact that over these 5 years I've lost career and health and she refused to have any husband/wife relationship with me during this time. It is the divorce settlement that her lawyer proposed. The list of demands is very long and she seems to insist that it'd be best for me to agree (and have uncontested divorce). I asked her many times to reconsider, offering whatever I can offer in my situation, but she make her decision and did not want to change it.

The chances are that I'll end up without a place to live, hardly any income (as my doctor says that I can only work part time), and a question of whether I'll have an insurance to pay for the medical bills.

And according to the divorce contract there will be sizable monthly child support payments that I'll need to make (or end up in jail).

Not long ago -- when I was 28 I had a great job, a home in expensive neighborhood, a young wife, a nice car. Now I'm 32 and turning to religion to plan for after life.

Questions: has anyone been in a similar situation?

If yes, what did you do with the rest of your life (my rest of live may be just 5 years)?

If no, any ideas how I might proceed from here?

Someone suggested that I need to move to another city where it is quiet and peaceful. The only problem -- based on the divorce papers, I'd need to support her standard of living in New York City.

6 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Enjoy every day one at a time,look for things that make you smile even if they are small.

  • Me
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    I didn't realize you could catch depression like a cold. And I also didn't know that depression can keep you from working full-time but allow you to work part-time. Sounds like an interesting case of depression. If your wife wants a divorce sobeit. I don't blame her. Bed rest for months on end, twin babies to raise with the man out of the house 8am-8pm, deaths in the family. She has a right to be depressed.

    As for you, you need to stand up, brush yourself off and start trying to get back the great job you had before. Quit moping around hating life. No one has taken anything from you. Depression can be fixed with counseling, a new outlook on life, and maybe some pills. It's not like you have cancer. The education you have that got you the good job is still with you. Use it. You can get back the house and the car and the job and the neighborhood. Go get 'em.

  • 1 decade ago

    Wow, that really sucks. It sounds like she may still be suffering from depression. Is there any way that you can try for full-time custody of your children? If she hasn't been working for four years and you may be laid off I don't think it's at all fair that you would have to support her financially when she's not even been trying.

    My dad is in a similar situation with my mom, except that I am their only child and I am grown. My mom has a few mental issues and quit working two and a half years ago with a promise to my Dad that she would start looking for work again in three months. She claimed she just needed a few months to get her head together, but she refuses to go back to work now and is spending too much money. My dad wants a divorce but he can't now because he'd have to pay her alimony and he wouldn't be able to afford his own life. It really sucks.

    I'm really not sure what advice to give other than to try getting full custody of your children and/or urging her to seek further treatment for depression.

  • 1 decade ago

    I know exactly what your talking about. Have u filed for disability? I feel you have given your marriage 150% so go on with your life it is hard to do but, i feel you are a survivor.I had to live with my MOM for

    about a year. I was in the medical field. That was in 97. I remarried in 99 to someone on disability we had a nice home & most of the time got along ok. 2 days after our 4th anniv, we were talking & he had a massive heart Attack & died in front of me. I stayed out of sight for 3.5 years until I was able to face the world.I wish you the best.

    Source(s): Life Experience
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  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    Erm. What if some extraordinary guy grow to be like could you have intercourse with me? confident Or, some extremely warm guy or woman is like - could you have intercourse with me? NO! it particularly is a no-win situation. i decide for perhaps.

  • 1 decade ago

    your attitude is very poor. be more positive

    have you ever read or watched the secret?? look it up on youtube. it may change your life!

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