Dear Coleen. My best friend has been having a really tough time in her marriage in recent months and she and her husband have two kids, who are two and four. Recently, things blew up and she walked out on him, saying she couldn’t cope any more, and went to live with her mum, leaving her children behind with her husband.
She’s suffered on and off from depression and anxiety, and explained that she couldn’t deal with her children right now and that they’re better off with her husband because he’s a good dad. When she told me, I cried because I was so upset for her and also for the kids, who must be upset and wondering why their mummy isn’t at home, and only visiting now and again.
The bottom line is, I can’t believe my friend would walk out on her children. I’m trying to support her and get my head around her decision, but I’m having a tough time accepting it. I don’t know how to try to help her without telling her how I feel about it. I don’t want to make things worse, but I know I couldn’t leave my kids under any circumstances.
Please advise. Coleen says. Your friend has done what she thinks is best for her kids. OK, I can’t imagine anything that would make me think I couldn’t deal with kids any more, but then I’ve never, thankfully, suffered that level of depression and anxiety.
