I remember that milestone.

Scary is just one of the feelings I was buffeted by in that storm of emotions. I can't fucking advise you on which way to run or turn to avoid x or y or z. I was opposed to divorce for a LONG time. I sought **marriage** counselors, not *divorce* counseling. I didn't get what I was wanted, but I did get what I needed, to borrow a lyric. It's true, too.

Civility is good, but don't let it inhibit your efforts to protect yourself.

Great advice. Civility is good, especially where kids are involved. And one person can take the high road even if the other person stops at some point.

But - do protect yourself. Most of us probably wish we'd done a better job. 'Nuff said.

And the emotional storm - I didn't realize it would happen and wasn't well prepared for it; I thought I was totally resolved and didn't expect to feel yanked hither and yon. Knowing about it, preparing for it, is a good thing.

Glad things are calm for now. Get your stuff safe, take care of yourself, be good to yourself. People here have your back.

i try to be very nice to my ex, but she sure takes advantage of me. she had me do her front brakes in the parking lot of an auto supply store on friday. i even had to pay for all the parts and have the rotors turned. most of ya'll know the hell i went through when she left me for another soldier while i was in a military hospital. i went 18 months without seeing addie. anyway, by being nice i get to see addie just about anytime i want.

of course i should have known better than try to have a relationship with a girl 26 years younger than me. never again!

26 years younger!?

You need to re-read Ortho's advice on that matter. She's a doctor.

I know, but little ead was thinking. I had just come back from a pretty rough tour in Iraq and went buck wild in a college town. The only thing I can say in my defense is she had big titties and freckles

who needs freckles?

Your honor, we drop our charges.

Oh, another negative was I dated her mother in college :(

:shock:

Now this is getting good!

ya'll don't remember all of this drama in 2008 and early 2009? i totally spilled my guts. i was hurting so bad. i still haven't recovered

Now that you mention it, it does sound familiar. But I don't remember the details. I'm glad you have a good enough relationship with her to be able to go driving trucks through the woods with Addie.

I remember sarge but the fact that she was 26 yrs. your junior and you'd dated her mom slipped by me.

Hey, big guy. It took me 11 (as in eleven) years to get over my ex. But I did. And now I'm glad I'm not in his life anymore. he got weird.

I'm at this stage. It's not gonna take eleven years though. We still have the connection of a minor child, so there's that. Everything else has fallen off to opposite sides of some emotional/social mountain range that lies between our positions. The distance now is amazing.

My ex is still a manipulator. She married the other soldier 2 weeks before he deployed. They were divorced 18 months after he got home. Now she calls me to handle all of the "men's work". I play nice because of Addie. Plus, she still has big titties and freckles