Your spouse is an adult, but if a Wayward, WAS, or in an MLC, do they necessarily know what's good for them?
A better question is "if you think they do not know what is good for them, and they are functioning adults, then who do you think you are? Their parent?" Mighty arrogant if you ask me.
I think it is apt that you chose children for your line of reasoning. This thought process is clearly aimed at reducing your spouse to a child in your judgement.
You might want to examine that premise.
Why would you do that? Is it because you do not agree with what they feel? So, like a child who feels angry because they can't have ice cream for dinner, their feelings don't matter?
Where's your empathy?
My understanding is that you show empathy with validation not by agreeing.
