09-05-2010, 02:04 PM
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#8 (permalink)
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| Moderator
Join Date: May 2008 Location: MA
Posts: 5,086
| Re: He resents me because I'm unemployed
I can give you advice on what NOT to do ...
Don't dismiss his concerns. His stress is very real, I can assure you. He is likely afraid of feeling like he will fail the people he is trying to provide for. Moreover, he may not feel like he has much of a partner in you right now. We are expected to do exactly as your insightful girlfriends indicated; fade into the background, suck it all up, shut up and do it.
I would suggest trying to empathize. I experienced similar concerns with my spouse. I had no problem with her being a SAHM, as long as my income was sufficient - the time came when it wasn't.
We racked up substantial credit card debt paying for household needs, while she simply gave me a litany of reasons why she shouldn't work - even part time.
You both have jobs to do - and these are exactly the circumstances that put your marriage most at risk if you don't make the relationship between the two of you a priority.
If he doesn't think you are trying, and you simply think he's crying that the sky is falling, you have a recipe for disaster. I know this, because I went through it.
You fell in love, got married, and are having kids together. You chose that course out of love and common goals. Those common goals will also be the greatest contributor to the UNdoing of your marriage if you ignore the foundation of your relationship - which is the bond between you and your husband.
You need to have the conversation where you both air out your concerns about how this plan moves forward, so that you can each find a measure of peace, and take some joy from the family you are building. Don't do this, and the family you are building will simply become the primary driver of resentment between the two of you instead.
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