Different Perspectives on Divorce: Ying and Yang
Picking Sides/Labels
We, as individuals, are so forced to picking sides these days. Liberal/Conservative. Working/Stay at Home. Hot/Cold. Pro-Choice/Pro-Life. For/Against Divorce.
In this world, we are all but one of the “great unwashed”. (Off-topic, this is how we were graded in Civil Procedure in law school – we had this marvelous professor who gave us non-decript grades, such as GU (average); TD (Touchdown) – and never told us what the grades meant until the end. )
To avoid the mundane, and to feel like we belong, we often partake in hating the “other side” – whoever is against us. The problem is, no 2 people are the same, so at some point, you disagree with someone, including your spouse.
But I digress.
You Don’t Need to Be For or Against Divorce to Divorce
The point of this essay blog is to let you know that you shouldn’t listen to people who are FOR or AGAINST divorce. The decision to divorce is uniquely yours – it does not belong to your family, friends, therapist, or divorce lawyer.
Some reasons to divorce:
1. Infidelity.
Obviously, if your spouse is cheating on you, you should leave. (but not always)
2. Domestic Violence.
Not only should you divorce, you need to seek help.
3. Harming the Kids.
If you and your spouse are engaged in constant battle, and you have explored all alternatives, sometimes divorce is the answer. Constant unresolved conflict is harmful to kids.
Some Reasons Not to Divorce:
1. Grass is greener syndrome.
Sometimes it’s greener because you’re not over there fucking it up.
2. You’re tired of your spouse.
They’re tired of you too. Here’s some Marriage Advice.
3. You’re not attracted to your spouse.
You’re not so hot yourself. Here’s some more Marriage Advice.
4. Money.
Not sure what money has to do it with it, but a man is not a financial plan.
5. Lack of intimacy.
Get intimate! Here’s some more Marriage Advice.
6. Weight Gain
Maybe if you cook more and exercise with them more, they wouldn’t be so fat.
7. In-laws
You chose them. Stop self-victimizing.
8.Differences in parenting
Oh boy, you think this is hard when you’re married? Divorce is worse.
9. Infidelity.
I listed this under both becuase I do believe that if the cheating spouse is truly deeply sorry and it will not happen again, and with adequate counseling, you can get through it.
Marriage is hard, and made impossible by our exposure to unrealistic tv shows/movies. (I’m looking at you, Notebook and Ryan Gosling – you have wrecked everyone who’s watched you.) Happily ever after? Who believes this shit? I wish they had children’s books which exposed the truth of marriage – long work hours, cleaning up lots of poo, no sleep, different perspectives on sex, menopause!, lack of money due to all of you after-tax money being spent on kids and pets, forgetting anniversaries, birthdays.
If You are Considering Divorce
Anyway, if you are considering divorce, ask yourself – have I done everything I can to save the marriage? Are my expectations out of wack? If you have explored everything, and that is the answer, do not let anyone’s judgmental comments stop you. They are not living your life and it’s none of their business.
But do remember this – if you treated your spouse like SHIT during the marriage, you are in for a real treat in divorce. However bad your marriage was, multiply it by 1 billion, and that’s how bad your divorce will be.
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