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View Full Version : Sister and Brother are having problems


dame_wolf
01-04-2010, 03:39 PM
I don't want to type it all out in great detail but it looks like my Sister and Brother are getting a divorce. Now before you all start thinking what a messed up place this is with a brother and sister married we are not blood. I've know R (sister) for 20 years and J (brother) for 19. I love them both, they are my sister and brother. We were all friends long before R and J got together so it's hard to see them go through this. The thing is people change over time, everyone does, and they have just grown in different directions. J has become very dependent on R, very smothering (R is not a person that likes that), and I don't think he likes himself or even knows who he is anymore. R wants a partner, not a 4th kid to take care of (yes they have 3 kids together) and doesn't love the person J has become. They have troubles in the bedroom (sorry if that's TMI but in a relationship/marriage that is important), and J's mom is putting images in J's head of R cheating on him with another of our friends, T. R isn't that kind of person, J knows that but is very insecure. Plus T went through a very bad divorce a couple years ago where his wife cheated on him the entire time they were married. He's not that kind of person either and he has a live in girlfriend.

They are both talking to me which is fine. They are both my friends and have been for most of our lives. They both know that they are both telling me things that I can't share and neither one of them ask about that. They know if I am keeping a confidence for one I am keeping a confidence for both but they also know that if they tell me something that I think the other should know I will say so and the other is going to know and they are fine with that too. I've never had one say 'No don't say that!' it's always 'I've already told them that so go ahead, maybe they'll listen to you.' 2 years ago when they had the first major blow up I acted as mediator between them cause they just couldn't talk to each other without a fight blowing up. This time is very different from that time and I told them that they could talk to me about anything they needed to, I am there for them both, but that they need to get a counselor. They need someone that is COMPLETELY outside the situation. Both agree and they have gotten the phone # for a marriage counselor. J is hoping that this will save the marriage, R is hoping that this will help J to let go and get his own life. I'm really afraid that for R the marriage is over and that is the only thing that I think J needs to know and I haven't told him. I still have hope for them too, just like J does but the hope is small.

lovesfortune
01-04-2010, 03:59 PM
i'm so sorry for the situation and for you to be in the middle of it all. getting and outside 3rd opinion is a good idea. i'm glad they got a marriage counselor's number and whatever the outcome i think that is a step in the right direction. sometimes when communicate breaks down, things get lost in translation - maybe this is what they need.

dame_wolf
01-04-2010, 04:06 PM
I'm really sad for them. They've been trying to fix what has been wrong in their marriage for 2 years now ever since it reared up and bit them both in the butt. They have become 2 roommates with kids... J says he loves R and R says she loves J but isn't in love anymore, she loves who he was not who he is. I was okay helping them when they almost didn't make it 2 years ago but this time is different. Last time when I asked R if she loved J she said yes.

Oh and they got the phone # to the counselor before I told them they needed to so it's not like they dumped this on me expecting me to do the job. I'm just the friend this time!

valleyrider
01-04-2010, 09:58 PM
DW, sorry to hear your sister & brother are having trouble with their marrage. Seeing a 3rd party sometimes helps. Like lovesfortune said,, it is a step in the right direction. I hope things work out for them.

Stalknndashadows
01-04-2010, 10:06 PM
I'm sorry they are coming to divorce and you are in the middle. It is always such a hard thing to be in.

I'm not sure if they tried to just sit down and talk about what bothers them and point out how each other has changed for the good and for the bad. I have found very few couples who have an open relationship with each other and a lot of problems can come down to something as simple yet vital as communication.

For example, as my friend says, I am a taker by nature and she is a giver and that is why we get along. My SO is a combination of taker yet devoted giver. I can admit I can be a selfish person and unfortunately lost sight of the bigger picture recently and didn't realize how I was affected those around me until there was a sit down. The SO and I are working on rebuilding our foundation, since we have let it lapse a bit and it has began to crumble in a way neither of us intentionally meant. We have both changed as people yet as much in love as the first time we met. We have been running smoothly...until we permitted our communication with each other to deteriorate.