Some days, despite the blessings I have, I am reminded over and over and over again that I do not have the one thing in my life I thought I would have: a child.
Children.
It seems like everyone I know is expecting their first, their second child. And I try really hard to be happy for them. I try so hard to mouth the right things, because I am happy for them. But every one of those words of congratulations tears open the scars – I will never have a child. Not a child of my own. (And I do very much consider an adopted child to be my own, by the way.)
My wife is not just simply not ready, but also not…capable. I’m not talking physically, but emotionally. I’m already keeping our home together, taking over pretty much every responsibility.
I may be a bad person, but I can’t take care of all of our details, make sure she’s taking all of her medications, and be the sole caretaker of a child as well. Hell, I doubt we’d be able to qualify for adoption if I have to somehow bind everything together, and honestly, I don’t think that would be a good environment for a child anyway.
So. I’m left with a bitter choice that I can’t actually make: my wife, or my life-long dream of a child.
How do you make a choice like that?
You can work through what you need to do to make your life feel better, more like the life you want to live, it’s just so hard. I hope you find someone who will help you talk through it. Once you figure out which of these cherished things you will have to live without, which one you’re willing to let go of, you’ll find your happiness.
This sounds like an impossible choice and I am sorry that you are in such a difficult situation with it. I wonder could working/ volunteering with children help fill the need while you are deciding what to do next? I do not know what is best for you, but I will be cheering for you from here, whatever you decide.