My wife and I are getting divorced. We've got two small kids (5 years and 18 months). We want it to be as clean as we can, but I think it's going to get at least somewhat messy.

Cheer me up with something happy that you've done or someone did for you this week and be entered to win a game of your choice (up to $10).

I'll select the winner randomly at the end of this week (Friday or Saturday).

Not in, I would just like to share my story that you might possibly see as a happy ending. I have never been married but have lived a very important relationship of 9 years, we were really young when we started dating and then living together. We have helped each other growing up and given a lot of mutual support and been in love. But at some point it was just bitter discussions and communication had become impossible. After other 10 years since breaking up we are still friends and keeping in touch. We might even write a book together. Now we both have much happier relationships and feel almost like siblings to each other.

I mean to say that from a break-up can flourish a good friendship, I wish you the best!

I have spent an amazing 10 days with a good friend and her dogs, and bathing in the sea at night made me forget every problem for a while, it was just me and my my friend, the stars and the water, like being out of time. I could have been a child again in that moment, with no other care than waiting for the next wave.

Not in (I normally jump on free stuff in general, but I would not feel comfortable doing so in this circumstance.).

My Dad got me some real good pizza from a place neither of us have tried before, it had anchovies.
It was a good pizza.
......
I don't do alot in any given week.

I'm in for Warhammer: Mark of Chaos - Gold Edition https://www.gog.com/game/warhammer_mark_of_chaos_gold_edition

Not really done much for anyone lately. But I did stop and help a turtle cross the road today to help him get to his destination, wherever that was :) - I went and got a rescue puppy Friday and gave her a new home with me. Shes a pretty Dachshund name Mia.

Anyway, I'm terribly sorry about your divorce but sometimes these things are for the better and you usually learn that later on after it takes place.

I'm in. Not really in a position to refuse free gog game.

I gave my cousin a little spending money for his birthday. I sincerely think he'll appreciate straight cash in this kind of situation we're in now. While Leeds United, the football team I've spent supporting with almost nothing to cheer for finally promoted to the highest tier league in style. After 16 miserable years in the wilderness.

Wish you well and hoping the kids all the best.

Not in, since I've been very well blessed on these forums by doc and others with a robust backlog, but I wish you best in your conscious uncoupling. It's never easy to split, and kids only make it more complicated, but it is definitely possible to make it work better apart, sometimes.

I guess I got to give away a million dollars this week. So there was that.

Admittedly it was not my own personal money since I am not blessed/cursed with a million dollars, but hey. ;)

Sorry to hear you're going through this, especially in this generally troubled times.
Let's hope that you two will be happier apart than you were together and as a bonus hopeful wish let's have a Star Wars DroidWorks GOG release by the end of this shitty year.
Stay strong, pal!

I am so sorry, mate. A divorce is almost always a horrible thing. You can't spend that much time with someone, care for someone that much, without it being all jagged bone edges when you break apart. Adding children makes it so much harder.

A few things that made me smile this past week. They're not huge laugh-making instants, but especially right now, you've got to remember the little positive things that happen. It will help you get through the day.
A friend called me in distress Thursday, because the dog her oldest daughter saved up for was vomiting and had diarrhea. the local vet couldn't see her for another day, but over the phone told her it was most likely Parvo, and the dog likely wouldn't make it another day anyway. I sent her to my vet, who told her the dog just had a stomach issue, to watch the diet for him, and he'd be fine. Adorable fluffy little thing :).
I'm starting a course in learning Python, and doing really well. I still have a job for now, but it doesn't hurt to prepare, and I could certainly use the extra knowledge. Doing very well in it!
My wife and I met in WoW 15 years ago or so, and we've recently started back in WoW classic, and have puled many of our core group back together, running dungeons, chatting in discord, texting in a group chat. Having friends are a good thing. We don't all agree politically, but we're still good friends, and enjoy each others' company :).

Lastly, the wife and I kept laughing thru the weekend by playing a stupid-facebook-game. It calls for you to add one word to a movie and completely ruin it. I've got two or three completely just wrong-wrong-wrong that made us laugh but would never repeat outside the house, but I'll get your started.

The Empty Notebook
Sonic the Sleepy Hedgehog
Up Yours

It'll be ugly. But you will make it through. And you will feel better. Good luck!!

Not in. I just want to wish you all the best.

Hope you and your wife stay friends and each find the happiness that you, unfortunately, couldn't find together.
I wish all the best to your kids too.

Stay strong.

Yes, a divorce with children can get very messy. But it doesn't need to. I'll just relate a story from my personal life here. My girlfriend/life-partner is the mother of five wonderful children. She separated from the father of those children some years back. It was difficult in the first year, but they found a way to still work together as parents. The children are aware that their parents aren't together and don't love each other anymore. But they also never had reason to doubt that both their parents love them and in spite of the separation, they just work well as a family. Much better, in fact, than before the parents separated. The secret is: both parents always put the well-being of the children first. This was more important to both than any grievances against each other. I wish you, that you both will be able to do that as well!

Now, several months back, they have accepted me into their family. All the children accepted me as the new friend of their mother, even the father did (I wasn't the reason for the separation. That is years back, I am quite new. That makes it easier for him). The children even seem to really like me, even the one who just entered puberty and is therefore a bit difficult. There are many nice things we did together that I could relate. Partially all together, partially just me with one or two of them. But I'll just take the most recent one.

Last Saturday I took one of the girls to an amusement park here in the vicinity. She had never been there and we also invited my god-child, who is of the same age. Both girls hit it off immediately and we spent a wonderful time. She was practically glowing by the end of the day and couldn't stop talking for enthusiasm. So yes, it was a very happy weekend. :-) The girl was happy, my god-child was happy and I am very, very happy that I may be part of this non-standard but caring family!


Edit: oh, I forgot, I'm in for Steamworld Dig 2, as long as that's discounted to fall in the price bracket.
(if it isn't discounted anymore when the GA ends, I'll be in for Stranger Things 3 instead)

Not in but wanted to wish you all the best during this difficult time.

Who would dare to be in in such gloomy giveaway

If both you and your wife are normal people,you don't have to argue
Your children are small,though,it may be the obstacles to peaceful and friendly divorce.


I would like to be for game Alwa Legacy.

I am sorry to hear that. I hope everything turns out okay eventually. Stay strong.

Anyway, I'm in for Hitman: Blood Money
https://www.gog.com/game/hitman_blood_money

I cheered up my friend, who was feeling down at that time, by buying her a box of brownies. It was a simple gesture yet effective in lifting up her spirits. Doesn't hurt that the brownies are really good.

First of all: a divorce is not the end of the world.

Going by your statement, that you and your wife want the divorce to be progressed as clean (and peaceful?) as possible, I'd say you're still in that state of your relationship that enables you to stay friends afterwards.

Which is great. Fun fact: I know a lot of people that get along much better since they have been divorced again (the list includes myself, my brother, my mother and an aunt (and our respective ex-partners, of course)).

The most important point for this to work is to "pull the emergency brake" in time, that is: before love turns to hate.

I've also seen people where that braking point was missed...That's usually where a divorce turns into something really, really ugly.

So, if you both can still "work together" to get this thing over with as much dignity and grace as possible, you've already managed the hardest part.

Things may get a little shaky when new S.O.s enter the playing field, but - after a "good" divorce - even that shouldn't be an insurmountable hurdle, anymore.

Having mutual kids can help a lot in that regard.
After all: they want and need both their "original" parents - that's a huge motivator to keep things civil (at least if reasonable people are involved).
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Sorry, but I can't cheer you up with anything happy/nice, since I didn't have anything happy/nice happening to me this week, resp. I haven't done anything in that regard.

So - not in.

Thanks for everyone's notes! They have been really sweet and I appreciate each one.