Orlando Sentinel

Husband loses his wife to Snapchatti­ng soulmate

- Amy Dickinson You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@ amydickins­on.com. Readers may send postal mail to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068.

Dear Amy: My wife and I have been together for 15 years. We have three children.

I would describe our marriage as normal; we've gotten into arguments, but things always tend to bounce back to normal after a few days. There has not been any abuse of any kind. Our house is a healthy one.

We agree on all the major topics, such as politics, religion, money and child-rearing.

About a year ago, she started a new job. After an argument, she said that we aren't soulmates, that I don't "get" her and that she thinks we should get a divorce.

In 15 years, she had never mentioned these things to me, so it came off as a red flag.

After some snooping, I found out she was Snapchatti­ng with a (male) co-worker. I was devastated. I immediatel­y went into save-my-marriage mode. We went to counseling, I worked on the aspects of my personalit­y that she didn't like, and changed some behaviors. She promised to only maintain a profession­al relationsh­ip with the guy at work.

She has since canceled our counseling because she says it's not working. She has moved out, and come to find out she's been lying to me because she never stopped talking to him!

After looking through our cellphone bill, she would call him anywhere from two to six times a day. When I confronted her, she claims he is only a friend, their conversati­ons just flow and that he's a good sounding board, since he doesn't know our entire history. Am I a fool to believe this?

She says we should break up because of our past and brings up all of our past arguments. But I am willing to work on those things and try to become a better person, husband, and father. Is she just using our past as an excuse to be with this guy?

—Feel Like a Fool Dear Feel Like a Fool: Brother, I have walked in your shoes. I'm very sorry this is happening to you and your family. But it will get better for you.

Your wife says she has given up on counseling because it "isn't working." The reason counseling isn't working -- is because she does not want it to.

At this point, I hope you will focus on your own health and healing -- and on the emotional health of your children. In short, you cannot control you wife's feelings, or her actions. You do you.

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