Seeing, accepting reality
Dear Amy: My partner and I have been together for more than 15 years. We are not married, and now we are in our 40s.
He developed a serious health issue after we became serious in our relationship. For the past many years, he has had an “apron” of extra weight and is far over the safety range, worsening his condition.
Our families are supportive of us getting married, especially because he nearly died on us three years ago.
Even with all my education, research, and all my dedication to his situation, I have had little influence on what he does or eats or if he exercises.
I have tried to show him that we can stay together forever, just as things are. BUT I have also tried to explain to him that financially, we need to be married to secure our retirement.
He is on disability, and I have spent the last 10 years working from home to be here for him.
I have tried to get him to go to counseling or support groups. He won’t do either but is clearly suffering from long-term depression resulting from the many problems that his condition has caused. I cannot motivate him.
I say the “Serenity Prayer” every single day, but there has to be something else that would work. Desperately Seeking Enlightenment
Dear Desperately Seeking: I admire your dedication to your partner. Unfortunately, you don’t seem to have fully accepted the “Serenity Prayer’s” central message, which is that God should grant you the strength to accept that which you cannot change.
You need to explore the idea that you might be part of the problem. In fact, you may actually be removing some motivation to try to take better care of himself. For instance, if you didn’t sacrifice your own career and financial needs to be home with him, you would leave the home to work and possibly make more money for your own retirement, negating the financial need for marriage.
This is your reality. Counseling (for you) might awaken you to the idea that you need to take better care of yourself.
Dear Amy: My husband goes to his mother to discuss issues in our relationship. After discovering this and discussing it with my husband, I find out that his mother has a few inaccurate and/or nasty opinions about a few of our issues and has actually straightened him out on one.
Nevertheless, I feel embarrassed and humiliated that our issues are shared with her without my knowledge, participation or consent. She is meddling, and he is inviting her to do it. Shut Out
Dear Shut Out: My advice is for your husband. He may receive helpful advice or comfort when he confides in his mother regarding his marital issues, but when he does so he creates an untenable situation for you.
Your husband’s most intimate relationship should be with you. If he wants to maintain a peaceful household and extended family, he will have to find someone to confide in who doesn’t have emotional skin in the game. He should help you to have a healthy relationship with his mother by being circumspect regarding problems and confide in and discuss his marital issues with a friend or a counselor.
Send questions to Amy Dickinson by email to askamy@amydickinson .com.