Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 7, 2003.
I was married three months ago, and I think I may have married the wrong woman. What do I mean when I say that? I thought I was in love, and while I have strong feelings of friendship and goodwill toward her, I feel I am alone in this relationship.
There is an odd feeling of disconnection and an inability to get to a state of real meaning with her. This has existed all through our relationship. "What's for dinner?" and " I need to wash the car" are about as deep as I can get with her. We can't share dreams, since I know her only dream is to have children and "be happy."
I am looking to other avenues for stimulation, reading more books, talking to old friends, and still trying to chip into my wife's world. I care for her, I don't want to hurt her, and both sets of in-laws love us. Yet I sit here and wonder why I married her.
Oliver
Oliver, you have a huge decision to make. And soon. The sooner the better. You need to decide if you can stay married before your wife starts working on her dream of having children and being happy.
Perhaps the following letter will influence your decision.
Wayne & Tamara
Unturned Stone
I've been married 19 years, nearly all of them unhappy. I knew after three months I'd made a mistake, but divorce was and is not an option. I love my in-laws, we have three children we both adore, and my husband is the primary wage earner.
We believe God can work miracles. I just don't know if it'll happen in our case. Over the years we've been to five different counselors. Seven years ago my husband checked out of the marriage and had an affair.
After a separation of two years we reconciled, which really was a miracle, and had our third child. I am at the point now where I just cannot stand my husband. We have not slept in the same room for two years, and there is no intimacy on any level. There is no one in my life I feel this level of anger with.
I have felt from the beginning he does not listen to me! Because I am not listened to, I don't feel respected. I am a Type A person, conscientious, hardworking and concerned about others. He's a friendly person who likes to make others laugh. He's a charmer but basically lazy.
I made the choice to stay in this marriage. It is the practical thing to do, and divorce does not bring all the answers. I'm happiest when he is away. I often think how life would be easier if he were just dead. How do I get rid of all the bitterness? How do I start to like my husband again, much less love him?
Clarisse
Clarisse, you are asking for help and tying our hands. That is like going to a doctor and saying, "It can't be a broken leg." Sometimes it is a broken leg. What you tried for 19 years hasn't worked.
You don't "believe" in divorce. Hardly anybody does. But if you believe fidelity, love, and happiness need to be in a marriage, then you have to believe in divorce, because without those things you don't have a marriage.
It is not selfish to want love, fidelity, and affection. They are human necessities. Think about the kind of marriage you have shown your children. Are you training them not to "believe" in divorce, even if they know after three months they made a mistake?
You have been miserable for 19 years. In addition to five counselors, we'll bet you've also read dozens of books and hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles. When you have tried all other avenues, you need to reconsider what you haven't tried.
Wayne & Tamara
About The Author
Authors and columnists Wayne and Tamara Mitchell can be reached at www.WayneAndTamara.com.
Send letters to: Direct Answers, PO Box 964, Springfield, MO 65801 or email: DirectAnswers@WayneAndTamara.com.
It was a mild summer day in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina... Read More
What is essential in your life? This question contains one... Read More
When starting any enterprise or business, whether it is full-time... Read More
Life is perfect. If you have read these articles long... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of February 9,... Read More
Lance Armstrong has already proven he is the greatest athlete... Read More
You know how images trigger emotions? You can see something... Read More
According to the Buddhists, between January 29 and February 12... Read More
Have you stopped to think what your favorite quotes are... Read More
If you suffer from a nagging feeling of "there must... Read More
The secret power of positive thinkers is their faith. And... Read More
Matthew 5:14-16You are the light of the world. A city... Read More
I have always rather envied those people who have a... Read More
Those of you, who can fathom yourselves welcoming and enjoying... Read More
Let us renew our hope in humanity. It's so easy... Read More
When you were a child, or maybe even when you... Read More
The lines below come from this weeks mind treatment, written... Read More
Good morning Roy, good morning Joseth.Roy? You have in your... Read More
Today more than ever before, we are witnessing a crises... Read More
There are discoveries all around ussmall gifts of joy that... Read More
Have you had a challenging day or week? Feel a... Read More
Below are some of the things that, over the years,... Read More
I grew up climbing mountains. Mountains are beautiful and challenging,... Read More
I'm often asked the question, "How can I best help... Read More
The Florida Iron Man involves swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 24,... Read More
In today's fast paced society, we've become accustomed to filling... Read More
I bought this computer just over two years ago with... Read More
Many people feel they have everything they need in life,... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of February 17,... Read More
Life is full of problems.The more you solve them, the... Read More
Even immediately after my car accident, every single person who... Read More
I am not going to tell you the story of... Read More
While sitting here tonight, watching the conclusion of "There Are... Read More
Judge not, lest ye be judged. ?Matthew 7:1The call was... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 13,... Read More
This statement has stopped many a war in my house.... Read More
Whoever coined this phrase is a genius. Life finds ways... Read More
Think of an adventure that you might like to take.... Read More
I grew up in the south in the 1960's. Married... Read More
She was just over knee-high standing next to me in... Read More
What is it that stops you from jumping off a... Read More
The Emmaus Journal QuietnessAs a state of being, quietness is... Read More
Lorenzo C. an inspiring young teenager who fell to the... Read More
"Desire is a tremendous force, and must be directed in... Read More
Do you remember looking up through the branches of a... Read More
"I attend courses, read books, listen to CD's, yet I... Read More
Have you ever been encountered with a trauma in life... Read More
What if every experience in your life is sent to... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of February 17,... Read More
Have you ever had one of those flashes of inspiration?... Read More
Life is what happens to you, while you are making... Read More
I thought you might enjoy reading a professional article I... Read More
Emotions are the most powerful forces inside us. Under the... Read More
"We are responsible for everything in our lives, including how... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of May 24,... Read More
The lines below come from this weeks mind treatment, written... Read More
Remember, everything is made of energy. Each of us has... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of August 4,... Read More
The early months of this year brought major challenges, as... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 24,... Read More
Somebody said you have to love what you do, but... Read More
You're a remarkable person. But, you knew that already. Still,... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of February 9,... Read More
Chorus: An' he said: "I went ski diving, I went... Read More
The beauty in creation is in the process, in every... Read More
Inspirational |