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chronic dissatisfaction. Two months ago, Laura ran off with Ben's best friend Ryan, leaving Ben with their two young sons. "Laura is very smart and a great mother when she's "normal", but those times are few and far between these days." Laura now lives with her father. "I want to go home so badly but I know that I can't. I am no good to anyone like this. I tear my family apart and then expect them to forgive me. That's crazy."

Ben is still crazy in love with Laura but agrees that she cannot come back. "I will have to see some major changes in Laura before I will consider letting her back into this house." When Laura left, Ben applied for full custody of their boys. He also hired an attorney to draw up a separation agreement, which states the house, and everything in it belongs to him. Laura took the computer and her car. "I signed because it was the right thing to do after all I have done. Ben has held this together our entire marriage and I'm not going to fight for what I messed up."

Laura spends her evenings with her children while Ben works. She and the boys attend weekly sessions with a psychologist and she is seeking psychiatric treatment for her disorder. In addition, she avoids alcohol and drugs that worsen her condition. "When you lose everything, if you are lucky, you get a new lease on life. For me, it was long overdue."

Separation is a parting of ways, but the circumstances and time apart are unique to each couple. For Kelly and Jack, separation is a step toward divorce, while Ben and Laura still hope for reconciliation. Though imperfect, both couples shared a respect for each other and their differences. They held high regard for the most important boundary. They placed the best interest for all involved first when creating their rules of separation.

Learn more about this author, TC Crumpton.
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