"Why Great Husbands Are Being Abandoned"

[Separation]

168. It's the "I want it now" generation.

Unless it's an abusive relationship, infidelity, drug use, etc. I think people are just taking the easy way out.

My wife and I have been married for 20 years. Have an amazing daughter who turned 18 yesterday, an autistic son who is 16, a 20 year military career moving the family all over the country, long deployments, hospital stays, etc.

We seperated for 7 months in 2001. Mostly because I was an asshole at the time. I married her when I was just 19 and she was 22. A PFC in the Marine Corps. 2 kids by the time I was 21. I became a total asshole and she left me while I was deployed. I was devastated. We had the 2 kids so we always put the kids first. My wife needed time to decide on whether or not the marriage could be fixed. 9/11 happened and we got back together a week later.

We still have had many ups and waaaay downs. I was severely injured and unable to walk for almost a year. I turned into another asshole because "I was no longer a man." I wasn't able to give out son the proper attention he needed. Being autistic, everyone but me is the enemy. I'm the only person that he has ever connected to. Due to hospital stays, pain, PT, I felt that I was neglecting him as well. I wasn't able to make love to my wife.

Many more ups and downs, but the one constant that my wife and I hold true. Is that I made a promise to my wife and she to I. We loved and still love each other now, and when the going gets tough we try to build on that original love we shared. It's easy to get a divorce.