It’s my son’s 7th bday party today.

I’ve been divorced for almost a year now, separated for almost 3. I’m over my ex wife but I still don’t like being around her.

She got remarried 30 days after our divorce to a man she cheated on me with. I still have not met him because I can’t get over the moral line they crossed. He seems like a good guy but I just can’t put on a fake face for someone willing to sleep with a married woman. Yes, he knew. He picked her up for dates at our family home.

In the past, I’ve always done my own thing with my boys for birthdays. This year I decided to go to a party which she expected me to help pay for but gave me no input.

This year has been a lot of change. When my ex moved out I stayed in the family home for two more years. My boys would bring their friends from school over and it was great. Now, we’ve sold that home and I’ve moved into a new house 5 minutes from her. Unfortunately I’m not in their elementary school boundaries so I don’t get to see their friends. Those same friends and parents are all chummy with my ex.

I don’t have family in the area so I’ll be alone at the party surrounded by people I don’t like or who are friends with my ex wife.

On top of all of it, Ive gotten incredibly introverted since I’m alone 50% of the time. I’m not in the greatest shape and the party is at a water park. My anxiety about today is through the roof and I’m just not sure why I agreed to go in the first place.