My sister called me last night to tell me that she and her husband of almost 12 years are getting divorced. They have been together since they were 16 and 17, respectively, so almost 14 years, and have an 11 1/2 year old daughter. She said they are friends, but there's nothing else there. I don't have the whole story, as I wasn't going to ask her to rehash it at 10:00 last night. All I know is that she's devastated, and depressed (she suffers from seasonal depression to begin with) and just started law school, plus they just closed on their house. This is not a decision they have come to lightly, I know that.
Is there anything I can say to her to help? My DH has been through a divorce, but he was never in love with his first wife, so it was a different kind of pain from what he tells me. My sister, on the other hand, has been completely enamored of her husband, and he of her for as long as I can remember.
I would go to her, but she's 700 miles away, and hopping in the car just isn't feasible. It requires planning, and I also don't want to barge in on her while she's dealing with this. She knows our door is open should she need to come here (DH told her so before he gave me the phone last night) and she also knows that I will jump in the car in a heartbeat if she tells me she needs me.
So what do I do? What do I say? How can I help? She's in pain, and incredibly stressed and depressed. I love her so much, and just want to make sure she's okay.
Is there anything I can say to her to help? My DH has been through a divorce, but he was never in love with his first wife, so it was a different kind of pain from what he tells me. My sister, on the other hand, has been completely enamored of her husband, and he of her for as long as I can remember.
I would go to her, but she's 700 miles away, and hopping in the car just isn't feasible. It requires planning, and I also don't want to barge in on her while she's dealing with this. She knows our door is open should she need to come here (DH told her so before he gave me the phone last night) and she also knows that I will jump in the car in a heartbeat if she tells me she needs me.
So what do I do? What do I say? How can I help? She's in pain, and incredibly stressed and depressed. I love her so much, and just want to make sure she's okay.