It's my wife who would think it was a stunt. I've learned the hard way that putting her in an "ultimatum box" doesn't really work. Perhaps it's related to the powerlessness related to SA, not sure. What I mean is it doesn't work because she will frustrate the process in a way that takes my power away so to speak. In this example with the two sets of papers, what she'd do is leave them there and tell me she'd look them over later. And then probably throw them out.
Once again, an ultimatum has never worked for you because you've never meant it. (You have several children--have you never had to deliver an ultimatum and then stand behind it when they tested you? It only works IF YOU ARE DETERMINED TO FOLLOW THROUGH.) If you would meekly say, "Sure, it's up to you whether you ever even look at them" and then let the issue slide, it would be crystal clear to her that your normally passive attitude hadn't changed.
Also, nobody can "take your power away." You can, however, GIVE it away. And when people do that, it's usually because they're meeting their own unaddressed needs.
