She was absolutely perfect in every way. The only problem was, she never disciplined her kids, they never helped out, and they took advantage of her. One day, after five years, I couldn’t take it anymore and just left. The last thing I said to her was “I have things to do.” A couple months later, I read an article written by a woman explaining why her PTSD made it painful and almost impossible to discipline her kids. Her story described exactly what I had witnessed fir five years.

I had two kids in college who are the nicest, most respectful people you’d ever want to meet. My ex-wife and I had fought about some things - money mostly - but we never disagreed on disciplinary issues. That was never an issue. My ex-wife had had some PTSD issues herself, and I asked her why it was so easy fir her to discipline our kids and she said it wasn’t. She put up a good front, but said that disciplining was terrifying to her and exhausted her. I had never noticed.

Humbled and horrified at how I had treated my ex-GF, I then texted her to apologize. She responded with the one thing guaranteed to ensure that I could never contact her again. She said she didn’t accept my apology and told me that she didn’t think I was being sincere and thought I had only offered my apology as a pretext to try to get back with her.

That was four years ago and although she only lives 3 1/2 blocks from me, I never saw her again. (Although her new BF’s back yard adjoins mine and I’ve run into him several tines. I’m not sure if he knows who I am).