{{Gud}} does it help that I have learned a few things from your marriage? I tend to be very blunt and so I have been spending most of my married life trying to really say what I mean, and make sure it sounds the way I mean it. your reactions to what you wife says - and the fact that is doesn't seem to matter weather it is plants, groceries or a philisophical belief have re-enforced that idea. I will probbably always call DH evil for putting recycling in the garbage - but since he will probbably always put the soda can in the nearest recpatcle, it is a good way for me to be exsaperated, without it becoming a big deal. If it is a serious issue, I use serious words. And the second thing , if somethign is important to me I give very clear, very detailed instructions. Not because DH can't do it, but because it matters to me that something is done a particular way. and i do that as little as possible.

It is ok for your daughter to know you feel bad. Just as long as she knows it isn't her responsiblity to make things better.

Maybe I'm just overreacting right now too, I'm just worried becuase things have been better and I don't want to slide back down.

{{{Gud}}} I wish I could make this better for you. But what Aimee and Steph and David said was very wise -- *you* count. And if she's been away for four days, then you couldn't work late while she was gone -- it doesn't seem like a stretch that you would have to now.

Not trying to dog-pile, though I know we are

But it's a warm and loving and supportive and wanting only the best for you kind of dog-pile!!!

Which is always better than the steaming and stinking dog-pile.

and I tend to post about stuff when I just need to get something off my chest so it sounds worse than it really is.

It's just that she really reads as overreacting. Like cold fusion with side order of extra overreaction, hold the logic and nice please.

And you are an amazing father. Truly.

I say the heartfelt advice is amazing too. Sometimes blunt and to the point is very good.

I shall sit here being very pleased that I have invested Actual Venture Capital ($1.00) in Matt's Clue-By-Four proposal, because I like to imagine getting to use it sometimes.

Dear Mrs. Gud: Grrrrrr. No argh for you!

There are definitely some wise people. It's tough for me to know what to do, she's not a bad person and when things are going well, then, well, things go well. But I know she has some self-esteem issues that I think fuel a lot of lashing out when she's stressed or such. Also, she tends to intrepret things as "you don't care about me" that also comes from the same source. Hopefully, I'm just overreacting and this will blow over without causing much damage.

Clue-By-Four

Brillant phrase.

Gud, I think you're married to my mom.

Also, she tends to intrepret things as "you don't care about me" that also comes from the same source.

The thing is, she has to realize that not watering the plants doesn't negate caring for your kids singlehandedly for four days. And working on top of it. *That's* caring. That's being a committed, loving partner and parent.

I just hope you know that. I want her to see it, too, but I'm more interested in *you* knowing that, at least from what I read here, you're doing everything you can do to make your marriage work.

Gud, I think you're married to my mom.

I'm proud of you, son. Sorry about the sucky people making doing your job difficult.