My brother's marriage is in shambles...

erikiksaz

Diamond Member
Nov 3, 1999
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He was married a couple years ago to his girlfriend of over ten years. She's been like a sister to me, a person that I would go to if i needed advice or help with anything. She was always level-headed and apparently stable. Anyways, since they've been married, they've been running into huge problems.

She has been going through many changes in a very short amount of time. She wanted to buy a truck (coming from a fixed-up Honda Prelude), changed styles of music (from pop to rock), clothes, and got a boob job. This was in a period of less than a few months. She's a social worker, and from what I've heard, most of her coworkers are pretty trashy, so that might be from which she's deriving these influences. Plus, she deals with farked up families all day long, so i'm guessing that a good portion of that negative energy's taken home with her everyday.

Now, on his end, he's pretty stable. He hasn't gone through much change in the years past. He's always been very affectionate towards her, and loves to spend time with her.

But the problem is, before they were married, everything was fine. Several months into the marriage and everything turned to sh|t. Now they had an argument about her feeling as if he's holding her back from what she wants to do (which involves "bigger and better" things), so a divorce may be (or is) on the horizon.

In those few months when they purchased a house and things went crazy, WTF happened? Can you guys offer any explanation as to why things made a complete 180 turn? And could this be described as normal in any way?

But most importantly, how do i help the poor guy. :(
 

Wanescotting

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Feb 4, 2004
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But most importantly, how do i help the poor guy.

Looks like he has some tough decisions to make. The best thing you can do is to be there when he needs a shoulder after making those decisions.
 

erikiksaz

Diamond Member
Nov 3, 1999
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The life-changing events already took place, i'm just asking about how to cushion the after-effects and an experienced opinion.
 

erikiksaz

Diamond Member
Nov 3, 1999
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Originally posted by: Aimster
Is money an issue?

They're doing alright with their cash, but by no means are they living extravagantly. They bought a house and he just bought a 350z, so i don't think cash is an issue.
 

Megatomic

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
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Just be there for whatever he needs your help with. If he needs you for anything I'm sure you'll know.

Regarding the wife, it sounds like she found someone else. She's transforming herself into someone else for someone else.
 

lavagirl669

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Apr 21, 2004
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So buying a truck, changing her music style, clothes and buying boobs makes her "trashy"
and under negative influences?

One thing is that purchasing a house can be very stressful, and it sounds like her job is too.

Sometimes people just change in a relationship, for good or for bad. How old is she? Often
a milestone age period causes great changes in women, I know it did for me.

Maybe she's even found someone else he doesn't know about....

Best thing you can do is be there for him....it won't be an easy road, but it it his marriage, not yours.
Just be his bro and support him if he needs you...
 

Wanescotting

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Feb 4, 2004
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In those few months when they purchased a house and things went crazy, WTF happened? Can you guys offer any explanation as to why things made a complete 180 turn? And could this be described as normal in any way?


Simple. People change. I am going through a divorce right now. Me and my wife are different people. We have drifted apart over the years. It stil hurt me when she told me she did not love me anymore, but I am getting through it okay. I made my tough decisions, and my friends were there for me when I needed someone to listen. They did not dispense advice, they just listened. (said friends are my friends of 20 years, so they might as well be my brothers).


This was three months ago. I will be moving to my hometown in month(where my friends live), and I am getting a new car, a new job,and I lost 55lbs in 2 1/1 months. I used the pain to motivate myself. In the process, I found something I have been lacking for the past 8 years. My confidence.





 

erikiksaz

Diamond Member
Nov 3, 1999
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Originally posted by: lavagirl669
So buying a truck, changing her music style, clothes and buying boobs makes her "trashy"
and under negative influences?

How old is she?

I don't know if it would make her trashy, but all that in a short period of time does mean that that particular influence is strong. Negative influence--that i can't explain, I can't help but figure that whatever's causing the weakening of their relationship may be negative.

And she's 28, he's 30. They've been together since his junior year in high school.

 

erikiksaz

Diamond Member
Nov 3, 1999
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Originally posted by: Wanescotting
In those few months when they purchased a house and things went crazy, WTF happened? Can you guys offer any explanation as to why things made a complete 180 turn? And could this be described as normal in any way?


Simple. People change. I am going through a divorce right now. Me and my wife are different people. We have drifted apart over the years. It stil hurt me when she told me she did not love me anymore, but I am getting through it okay. I made my tough decisions, and my friends were there for me when I needed someone to listen. They did not dispense advice, they just listened. (said friends are my friends of 20 years, so they might as well be my brothers).


This was three months ago. I will be moving to my hometown in month(where my friends live), and I am getting a new car, a new job,and I lost 55lbs in 2 1/1 months. I used the pain to motivate myself. In the process, I found something I have been lacking for the past 8 years. My confidence.

Thank you for your input. Good to hear that you've been successful in your transition.

The only problem I can see is that they've been together since they were in highschool (now late twenties/early thirties), so i'm worried that he won't be so quick to bounce back. He hasn't known anything else but that one relationship. In those years, he lost all his friends (they all parted with their wives too, which is kinda odd) and his life centered around her and his work.
 

Wanescotting

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Feb 4, 2004
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If she is determined to be this "other person" there is nothing your brother can do. What he needs to ask himself is " am I happy"?
 

lavagirl669

Diamond Member
Apr 21, 2004
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So she's 28...that is nearing a milestone age (30).

A lot of women go through MAJOR changes at these ages in many different ways.

Another factor here is that they have been together so long that neither of them really had
a chance to "know" anything else.

Yes, indeed it will be rough after all those years together, but your Brother will make it through.
All you can do is be there, he is going to have to be the one that pulls himself through like
Wanescotting did.

I've been through it too....not an easy road to travel, but many do.
 

erikiksaz

Diamond Member
Nov 3, 1999
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Originally posted by: Wanescotting
If she is determined to be this "other person" there is nothing your brother can do. What he needs to ask himself is " am I happy"?

I figure his response would be something like, "I was happy."
 

Wanescotting

Diamond Member
Feb 4, 2004
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Originally posted by: erikiksaz
Originally posted by: Wanescotting
In those few months when they purchased a house and things went crazy, WTF happened? Can you guys offer any explanation as to why things made a complete 180 turn? And could this be described as normal in any way?


Simple. People change. I am going through a divorce right now. Me and my wife are different people. We have drifted apart over the years. It stil hurt me when she told me she did not love me anymore, but I am getting through it okay. I made my tough decisions, and my friends were there for me when I needed someone to listen. They did not dispense advice, they just listened. (said friends are my friends of 20 years, so they might as well be my brothers).


This was three months ago. I will be moving to my hometown in month(where my friends live), and I am getting a new car, a new job,and I lost 55lbs in 2 1/1 months. I used the pain to motivate myself. In the process, I found something I have been lacking for the past 8 years. My confidence.

Thank you for your input. Good to hear that you've been successful in your transition.

The only problem I can see is that they've been together since they were in highschool (now late twenties/early thirties), so i'm worried that he won't be so quick to bounce back. He hasn't known anything else but that one relationship. In those years, he lost all his friends (they all parted with their wives too, which is kinda odd) and his life centered around her and his work.


I met my wife while I was in high school. We were together for almost 9 years. And she was my second long term realtionship. And one of my friends has been married and divorced. And I moved six hours away from my friends of 20 years. The similarities are striking.
 

erikiksaz

Diamond Member
Nov 3, 1999
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Originally posted by: lavagirl669
So she's 28...that is nearing a milestone age (30).

A lot of women go through MAJOR changes at these ages in many different ways.

Another factor here is that they have been together so long that neither of them really had
a chance to "know" anything else.

Yes, indeed it will be rough after all those years together, but your Brother will make it through.
All you can do is be there, he is going to have to be the one that pulls himself through like
Wanescotting did.

I've been through it too....not an easy road to travel, but many do.

Thanks for your help :)

I never knew that milestone age would come so soon. I thought it kicked in during the 40s. Sheesh, so this is common at 30 aye...
 

Megatomic

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
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erikiksaz, I'm kind of in your shoes to be honest. My baby sister has been married for a few years now and they have 2 kids. They are very unhappy with each other and the family is sure that a divorce is in their cards in the near future. My wife and I are there to talk to them when they need it but we try to stay out of it as much as possible.

We have one problem in our situation that you probably aren't facing... my brother in law is my wife's boss. He's worried that if they split that my wife will quit working for him leaving him in an awful mess professionally. She's assured him that she won't but his paranoia is certainly not unfounded.

I hate being caught in such a sticky situation. :(
 

Wanescotting

Diamond Member
Feb 4, 2004
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I hate being caught in such a sticky situation


Haha I feel his pain. I work for my father in law. My wife's family loves me, and they are sad to see me go, but they know they cannot do anything about it.
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
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sounds like the b00b job is contributing to her new [intended] lifestyle...
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
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Tell him if they do break up don;t make the first and most commom mistake, moving out. If HE moves out that looks really bad when it goes to court. Make sure he is not hiding anything worth of value, etc... Tell him to stay calm and juts ride it out if it does go down hill.

Have they seen anybody, like a shrink?
 

ragazzo

Golden Member
Jan 9, 2002
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her self-esteem wasn't all that great. that's why she got the boob job. after the boob job, she's gotten a lot more attention than she can handle. she wants more play now, so your brother is better off w/o her. of course, this is all speculation, but i'll stick to the statement that your brother is better w/o her.

 

richardycc

Diamond Member
Apr 29, 2001
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Originally posted by: erikiksaz
Originally posted by: Aimster
Is money an issue?

They're doing alright with their cash, but by no means are they living extravagantly. They bought a house and he just bought a 350z, so i don't think cash is an issue.

cash IS the issue, being able to buy and being able to afford is two diff thing. I hope they work things out.

 

Papagayo

Platinum Member
Jul 28, 2003
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If they have no kids.. then Divorce wouldn't be so bad..

Get it over with and find someone more compatible..