The kids have questions, i dont have the answers. However, the kids were here and saw it happening, until she left. They saw her change in her since early december. We were close and lived through the mood and ideal changes for thier whole childhood. I remember my step-son askimg me “why” when she sent him to live with his dad. He felt so rejected and I wanted to tell him something that made sense, but i had nothing more than, she’ll come around – she needs space and you should treat her better. Now I want to take this back now – he only treatrd her this way because thay’s how she allowed her relationship to be with her kids – she was the door mat. After she left, ive only seen my girls. I finally told them she left (after lying for a few days that she was out of town dealimg with family issues.) They were upset. I had a hard time explaining the “why” question they had. Told them this is what happens sometimes in relationships – it wasnt a sufficient answer for them (or me,) but they seemed to know not to press for more. My mexican background taught me different things about family and love that Im glad we have. I carried this into out home for all of us, buy didnt anticipate it neing cut in half after 10 years. I calles and talked to my 15 year old step-son briefly to let him know that im still there for him if he needs to talk about life. We always clicked. And I was his dad, when his dad who had him 50% of the time ignored him most of his life. I couldnt bring myself to talk to my almost 11 year old step-daughter. Im all she knows as a real dad. I gave her (them) the only structure theyve ever had. Shes the youngest in the family, buy the strongest character – I felt good, like I did that. I sent her a text saying, “dont worry, be happy.”  I want to keep that strong image in tact for her, and I didnt feel Od be ready to answer her questions adequately, like I couldnt for my teenage daughters. But she would have been the one to break it down and probably make me cry. I dont want that. I only want to inspire her, just like I want to do for my whole family.

Regarding what I told my wife. I tried not to echo what she thought and said about herself, but I had no control over what was going on between her ears. If she wanted to spend 2 weeks shitting on herself, of course i was going to get shit on me. We did have arguments about how she perceives herself. I argued she wasnt crazy, she wasnt ugly, she wasnt fat, she shouldnt be sorry, she shouldnt feel guilty over trivial things – but I wasnt going to come out of this clean because it was 10 years of her negative view of herself. So i dont agree with your blame shift here. Ive been reading these post and have seen this blame shifting going on to make people feel better about themselves, but it’s like a trump card you can pull out whenever its convenient. Bottom line, she (and me too) had our own issues before “us.” She openly confeases to every one and everyone that she was damaged. It killed me that one of my daughters was turning into a mini version of my wife with low self-esteem issues. Never told either one that this is what i saw happening. They were each being addressed separately with counselung and patches of medication. Damaged people can love and be loved. Some people stay damaged their whole life – of course I wanted it to end. We were able to bring light into our family and made great memories. I kept her laughing and learning, but that wasnt enough in the end. I had no way to avoid her low-self esteem appearing to be my fault here – even though she spent 25 years battling that on her own. I was the bad guy – a man. Her perception of a man was her dad, who she hasnt talked to since she was 18. Im nothing like her dad. She communicated her view of herself – she decided that this was her issue, not me.