Friend’s spouse may be jealous or insecure

QUESTION: I’m a happily married woman, late-30s, with children. I’m considered attractive (though I dress very casually), am well-liked and best known for maintaining friendships both past and new.

Most of my “friends-only” relationships with guys from when we were all single, came to include many of their wives.

My husband also accepted many of my male pals as his friends too, and we socialize with those couples.

But I lost one close male friend because his then-girlfriend immediately shut me out.

She’s younger than me, stunningly beautiful, and is always dressed smartly. They married, had kids, and live in the same general neighbourhood. Yet we never see them except accidentally.

It’s seven years since he introduced her to me, and she still turns away as fast as she can.

I’ve met and heard of other women like her, which prompts my question: Why are some women, who seem to have everything they could want, closed off and cold to other women? — I Don’t Get It

ANSWER: She’s jealous of the closeness you once had with her spouse. Or, she’s insecure, which is why she needs to always look “perfect,” and resents that he was close to someone as different from her as you are.

Or, none of the above. We cannot know everyone. People develop different interpretations of the world around them.

Her parents or her own past experiences may’ve made her feel that, to succeed in a relationship, she must deflect competition from other women, including her spouse’s platonic female friends.

Since she’s unlikely to open up to you, and future friendship is even less likely, what matters is whether your former pal seems happy in his life with her and their children.

If she is jealous, then any connecting you try to do with him, could cause a major squabble between them. Avoiding that shows him that you still are a friend.

READERS’ COMMENTARY: Regarding the young woman with mixed feelings about meeting her birth mother. I’m an adoptive mother. When adoption files were legally made open to requests, my adult adopted son registered his willingness for contact.

I felt emotionally apprehensive, but supported his decision. When a letter from his birth mother arrived at our home, he soon showed it to me. I found the letter very moving and empathized with the profound sadness she felt.I also sensed that my son was experiencing a great sense of peace, as if a weight was being lifted. Before meeting his birth mother, he wanted to write a letter describing himself. He also let me send a long letter to her, describing him and his childhood.

He went on to have meetings with his birth mother and eventually his birth father. He has talked openly and casually about these meetings. His birth mother and father were like strangers to him, but they’ve become friends.

I know he has an ongoing connection to his birth family, but I feel that he has reassured his dad and me that we, who loved him, guided him, worried about him and supported him, are indeed his parents.He continues to maintain his connection to the two large extended families he grew up with. His circle of love and support has simply expanded.

The decision to meet birth parents is, as you’ve written, very “emotion-laden.” This is true for everyone in the adoption triangle. This must be acknowledged. However, with openness and support, it can be a positive experience for all. ELLIE’S TIP OF THE DAY A jealous and/or insecure spouse (male or female) may distrust a partner, even over platonic friendships with the opposite sex.