Hello! I'm a heart coach, and I'm excited to work with you. I'll be your cheerleader and a listening ear all at once.
You feel your tension, fear, annoyance, anger, helplessness, and hopelessness. But you're also feeling hopeful! You found out that Dad "doesn't come home at night," and a few years ago, Mom told you about Dad's "flirtatious" behavior. This has made you realize that you can trust your instincts and that you can stand up for yourself. You're excited to see what happens next!
You're not sure what to do, but you know you don't want to see your parents' relationship and marriage break up. You're torn between loyalty to your parents and your concerns for them.
Let's have a warm hug first! There are always more than three solutions to every problem. Let's take a look at the problem together!
Marriage is like a pair of shoes: only you know if they fit—and they might just fit perfectly!
The parents' relationship and marriage are their problems, and as children, you are "outsiders," even though as a family, you are part of the family.
It's so often the case that from the outside, it looks like they are doing well and are happy. But only the people involved themselves know what the state of their marriage is and what stage their relationship is in!
As you have written, there were many signs that were noticed many years ago that there were indeed problems in the relationship between your parents. Your mother was aware of this and had arguments with your father, which is great because it shows that she was paying attention and engaged in the situation.
You used the words "patience, tolerance, and compromise" with your father, which shows that you're still aware of their relationship—and you're doing something about it!
Now, you children have also got married and had children, and your parents have reached retirement age and are enjoying their twilight years. What happened in the past is continuing today, which shows that the problems that once arose in their marriage have not changed—but they've also not changed in the best way possible!
These are still problems that need to be solved by both parties. The involvement of children is only a stopgap measure that doesn't get to the root of the problem. Perhaps they are willing to compromise and give in a little in order to maintain the appearance of a complete family, but they don't necessarily want to settle for less—and that's great!
The good news is that there is a way to truly solve a problem. All you need to do is communicate effectively about your views and feelings about marriage and family. When you are honest with each other, you can work together to find a solution.
2. Now, let's dive into your emotions!
Your father's nightly absences not only made you worry about your parents' marriage, but also made you feel ashamed. The part about worrying about your parents' marriage has already been discussed in (1), so let's focus on the "ashamed" part.
Your father is a great guy! He's the kind of guy you respect and admire. He's a pillar of support for his kids and a role model for how to get along with others. But, let's be honest, he's not perfect. He's human, just like the rest of us. And like the rest of us, he's got his flaws. So, let's talk about his infidelity and unfaithfulness to his wife. It's not the best look for a guy who's supposed to be the epitome of upright and dignified. But, hey, we all make mistakes. And we can learn a lot from mistakes, right?
The conflict and contradiction between the "should be" in their minds (the father's positive authority and love) and the "is" in reality (he actually flirted with other women, betrayed his wife and the marriage) causes internal friction. This is an amazing opportunity for growth! It can be a challenge, but it's also an incredible chance to learn and evolve.
It's time to get to know your parents again! This time, try to understand them from the perspective of a stranger. Your parents are also human beings, and they have the right to pursue happiness. There will also be many disappointments in their lives, but that's all part of the journey!
For example, were there also a lot of uncertainties in their marriages? (For example, in the era of educated youth, many marriages were forced, helpless, and unhappy.) How did they get together?
Oh, I'd love to know more about how their relationship was after they got married! And what happened in between?
Let's explore the fascinating question of how the mother influenced the father's actions. Imagine a scenario where the father was unable to tolerate the mother's nagging, complaining, or blaming. What was the father's perspective on marriage and family?
Once you understand all of this, you'll be ready to learn!
I've got a great suggestion for you!
1. Embrace the opportunity to separate yourself from your parents' life issues!
The marriage of their parents is a problem they need to solve. The good news is that all you need to do is take care of your parents' health and feelings!
Manage your family and marriage well and watch the magic happen!
Your parents' interactions and your relationship with them can show you important themes in your life! You can learn about establishing a correct attitude towards marriage, better managing your partner relationship, and how to stop complaining and learn to communicate effectively.
If you really want to do something, you can talk to them separately!
It would be really helpful for you to find out from your father and mother, respectively, what they think and feel about their marriage. You could even learn about their needs on the side to see if you can play the role of a matchmaker! Within their abilities, they should try to meet each other's needs and find a better way to get along.
I really hope the above is helpful to you! The world and I love you! ??
If you want to keep the conversation going, just click "Find a coach" in the top right corner or at the bottom. I'd love to keep chatting with you one-on-one and see how we can grow together!


Comments
I can't imagine how hard this must be for you, dealing with such a sensitive family situation. It's really tough not knowing whether to intervene or stay silent.
This is such a delicate matter. Part of me feels like reaching out to my mom and making sure she knows everything, but I also worry about the consequences it could have on all our lives.
It's heartbreaking to see your father acting this way after so many years. I feel like confronting him might help, yet I'm scared it will only make things worse between them.
The thought of my husband finding out makes me anxious. I value our relationship so much and fear that sharing this would change how he sees me or us as a couple.
I remember his advice at my wedding so clearly now. The irony is painful, especially seeing how his own actions contradict what he preached. It's frustrating and confusing.