Maybe she wants me back. Shes started sending me our daughter every weekend.
My ex-wife and I lived together for about nine years. We spent the last four officially married. We met at university, and after six months of dating, I asked her to move in with me. I held off on a formal marriage proposal at the timeshe had quite a strong-willed personality.
We only made our relationship official when we both decided it was time to think about starting a family. I hoped that motherhood would soften her disposition, making her more easy-going and kind. I believed she wanted to spend her life with me, just as I did with her.
But, as it turns out, not all dreams come true. After our daughter was born, my wifes temper seemed to worsen. It didnt matter to her that I was the sole provider; she would call me at work, insisting I come home because she couldnt cope alone or because something urgent had come up.
Money was painfully tight, yet she refused to let me work evenings or take on a second job, demanding I spent every night with her. Even if taking another job would have helped our family, she wouldnt hear of it.
After our daughter turned two, my wife tried to leave me for the first time. While I was at work, she packed her things and went off to her parents house. It took a great deal of effort to reconcile, but we stayed together for another year. Once our little girl started nursery, my wife filed for divorce.
It took me a year to get back on my feet. In my family, marriage was always something you did just once, for life. At first, I avoided dating, but eventually nature took over and I started seeing women again.
At first, dating was enjoyableId arrange dates at the weekends. But when my ex found out I was actively looking for a future partner, she began sending our daughter to me for the entire weekend. She knew full well I couldnt go out on weekdays because of my busy work schedule and, honestly, Im certain shes doing it on purpose. Where I used to pop round to see my daughter after work, now my ex has set new terms: either I take our daughter for the whole weekend, or I wont be allowed to see her at all.
I cant make sense of why my ex is making it so difficult for me to meet someone else, especially since she was the one who initiated our divorce in the first place. Perhaps shes changed her mind and wants to reconcile? My feelings for her have faded; despite our shared responsibility for our daughter, Id rather find someone new to build a life with.
Through all of this, Ive realised that, sometimes, the people who let you go arent ready to see you move on. Life often takes unexpected turns, and the best thing to do is to focus on what makes you happy and be the best parent you can be, regardless of the obstacles others might place in your way.
