Oh yes most definitely @Faith-and-Hope you were an appliance, and so is the next one. Not everyone has a heart in their chest that is capable of feeling and reciprocating true love, that's what Dr K says. If he treats his children like a function, a utility, that will have life-long impacts on their development & future relationships. You feel so worthless because no one has ever shown any sincere interest in you. It's soul destroying. But with a lot of therapy you can begin to see how it impacts your present relationships and take action to extract the users and takers.
I think that your ex-husband has found himself a gold digger. To be that brazen to parade herself in front of you and the cubs, and that dismissive/patronising air towards a vulnerable young person with a disability does show signs of narcissistic traits, or at the very least a deeply selfish person.
I think it took all of my 20s to realise how many people go into relationships for anything but love.
People. Want. Money. Faithy.
They want status and money. Which is a mind-set that treats a lover as a function as you say. When I was in my 20s I fell hard for a women. She didn't want me and then one day she let it slip why.....it's because I didn't have any money, and this other person over there did. And a big house in an expensive suburb and a nice car. I felt so hurt and stupid, I was crushed. But I'd been financially abused and I'd seen the dark side of money too, so I just don't think like that. But heaps of people do. There aren't many romantics left out there......but they are not your problem anymore. If she dumps him in the future sometime for someone with even more money than him, Ha! Not your problem honey.
I do hope that I am turning around my parents damage. I hope I am a good auntie, I worry about the cubs so much, the poor things don't have great genetics behind them. But they have a wonderful Mum and Dad. In terms of temperament my sib married the antithesis to their father. They celebrated 25 years together this year.
Lockdown is starting to take its toll FaithNoMore. Sydney is the national hot spot so I have literally only seen my friends twice in 18months
they work night shift in aged care so have to be really strict with the Covid measures. I hope that you are enjoying some freedoms down there in Melbourne, Corny 