Husband throws a wrench in plans
Dear Abby: As a way to manage my stress and anxiety when COVID hit, I started to exercise. Neither my husband, “Chris,” nor I had ever been into fitness at all. The problem? Chris is angry. He calls it “me time” and has made it very difficult for me to go.
I tried swimming in the morning before work, but he said he couldn’t manage at home to get our 2-year-old ready for school. I tried to go to the gym in the evening, but he said he needs me to help get the children ready for bed. I tried running later at night, but it didn’t feel safe, and I had trouble falling asleep.
Abby, I don’t know what to do. Last night he told me I am selfish and should move out. Can you help me?
Keeping My Sanity
Dear Keeping: Establishing a routine of regular exercise wasn’t selfish. It was the right thing to do. It is more important now than ever that you continue to take care of your physical and emotional health, and it’s a shame your husband didn’t do the same.
Rather than prevent you from doing what you have been doing, your husband should have praised you. Could he be jealous or threatened?
A mature approach would be for the two of you to agree upon a schedule in which he either dresses the kids in the morning OR tucks them in at night. It not only would be a lot less expensive than a divorce, but your husband might even grow to enjoy it. Dear Abby: I am a divorced father of two, both over 18. I have been dating a divorced mother of three. Her children are between 7 and 12.
We are really good together, and we would like to make a life together. The problem is, she’s reluctant to let her ex-husband know about me for fear of his violent reaction. Because of this, she doesn’t want her kids to know we are romantically involved. She gets defensive when I bring this up.
We have been seeing each other for a couple of years. I love her, but I’m starting to get the feeling this will never move forward. What should I do?
Tentative in California
Dear Tentative: If she’s afraid her ex will become violent if she makes her relationship with you official, and he has acted violently toward her in the past, she should contact her local police department and report it. If she is unwilling to free herself, then for your own sake, end the relationship. because it