Thought for the day

To touch the soul of another human being is to walk on holy ground. – US businessman

and motivational speaker Stephen R Covey (1932-2012)

“My husband and I are constantly arguing. We stopped showing each other attention and affection a long time ago. Recently we were arguing and I told him I was leaving him.

“I took off my ring and gave it to him. I was obviously acting out of anger. I noticed he has taken off his ring. He said he has had enough of me. He doesn’t want to listen nor talk. He has involved his family. I have tried sitting him down, but he won’t hear a word. He says he can’t handle stress and I am ‘the stress’.

“He says he can’t live with someone who is violent. It’s as if he has been waiting for this to happen to hide behind it and free himself from marriage. He won’t accept my apology and he has to speak to his family. I asked him if he still loved me and he said ‘yes’, but he is not sure if he wants me as his wife anymore. Do I leave him or stay? He’s not sure about our future. It depends on what his family says.”

I THINK your assessment is correct and you have given him an excuse to blame you for the dilemma you both created. Get yourself to a professional as soon as possible.

Smith is a family therapist in the US. He can be e-mailed at FamilyTherapist@iCloud.com.