Hi Ashley,
I saw the psychologist today. He basically said the exact same things that you did. I need to be more assertive and stand up for myself. She has let our family down, and continues to see/email this guy behind my/our backs. At the very least, she has some sort of emotional relationship with this guy that is inappropriate for a married woman.
I need to start focusing on me and the kids, now and not so much on her. Basically...she has already "left", so I need to stop worring about what I say and do. I need to confront her about exactly what is going on and let her make the choice...him or her family. I spent 13 years devoting my life to her, and she just tossed it aside without a thought. I've been making up excuses for her behaviour, when it was her that made a concious choice to have an affair. I've been blaming myself for what she did (did I not love her enough, did I not support her enough, was I too passive and let her go out all hours of the night and not be around ffor her children...) He also mentioned that it not fair that she is doing this to me, and that she is basically not considering how I feel, and how horrible she has made my life the past little while.
He said that it was ok for me to be angry, and angry at her. (Angry in a rational and calm way...) What she is doing is awfull and I have a right to be upset and mad...and that i shoudl tell her how her behaviour is making me feel.
I will wait until after Christmas to really do anything about this. I want the kids to be happy, and not associate the holidays with any bad memories.
I don't want to keep things the way that they are as I am misserable, and the kids are starting to be affected, so something has to change.
It will be tough confronting her as I know that she will walk away. The counciller said that I should offer to pack her bags for her if she does go...I've done all that I could. I just have to look after the kids now.
The session made me feel better, getting advice from a third party. He told me what I already knew, i just needed to hear it from someone else. I go back next week for another session.
I also need to go seek some legal advice...just in case.