My STBXW and I finally started our six month grace period, after being separated for almost 5 months and going through the mediation process. I’ve posted a few other times regarding my situation.

I found out during the process that she was damn near 70k in credit card debt that I wasn’t aware of (we kept separate bank accounts and money was always separate). Turns out, I get to help pay off her debt, yay. And I get to pay spousal support, double yay. At the end of the day, it’s just money and I will be fine financially. She got greedy with money, and as a result I got my dog, which is all I wanted. I’d say the process was amicable, albeit stressful at times.

She finally moved out mid-September after cohabitating. I traveled a lot to avoid being home, so during our separation and cohabitating I think I saw her a total of 15 times over 4 months?

Emotionally, I’ve been doing fairly well and have been genuinely happy! I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting and really listening to my emotions and learning what my emotions are doing for me. I’ve been on a bunch of dates, met a bunch of woman, and just enjoying life.

Yesterday, I let the STBXW take my dog for the this coming week. I know she loves him too and I don’t think it’s okay to not let her see the dog.

I got fucking emotionally destroyed. Not by anything she did or said to me. My ex looks like shit, she’s lost about 20lbs, looks frail, and just looks like a mess. She went from having a six pack of abs and some really nice muscles to a toothpick. A day after she moved to her new place, someone stole her bike that I gave her. She’s shaky, and at one point said, “My friends are the only reason I’m still here.”

Seeing my ex wife in such a shitty state really fucked with me emotionally. To see someone you genuinely care about not doing well is really difficult.

Any of you all deal with the same thing? How’d you handle it?

What did you all do with wedding pictures or just pictures in general?