Barrybran IV - Three Years Forward, 30 Years Back

[Barrybran]

Journaling:

Well my morning is off to a fantastic start. Last night, as I was going to bed my Dad tells me that Mum saw my wife go into my daughter's room to sleep. She's been cold to me since our listening incident so I understand. I didn't even see my wife go into that bedroom and I let my Dad know that and play it down. I head off to bed and low and behold, my wife is there in our bed.

This morning, I slept in. It was great. I've been waking up at 5:30am for work, no later than 7am for kids and this morning, with no work or kids, I was able to lay in bed until 9am. I could hear my wife playing Donkey Kong in the living room so I enjoyed the peace and let her enjoy hers. My wife headed out and my Mum comes out and asks if I'll be alright when they're gone as I'll have no support network. Whilst this is true in person, I've received more support from everyone here than I have my own parents.

They're old school and think my wife is being a b!tch because she's doing her own thing without consideration for the family and I. I understand their point of view. They've been married 30 years and my Dad has been emotionally abusive (see a theme? :-( ) the whole time to the point I feel my Mum has Stockholm syndrome. Basically, everything in the world has to be my Dad's way or it's not right and Mum follows his lead. Ever since I started with DB, I've done the opposite of what they've suggested and that lead to the good period between my wife and I. The only reason it went backwards is because she thought she was doing all the work and I didn't know how to handle it.

Mum and Dad were supposed to be gone already. I asked them to leave, they know my wife and I want them out and they keep making comments that try and guilt us. It's not working. They have a motorhome that my Dad has converted himself from a 22-seater bus. He's done a great job. He doesn't know everything though and he's had some trouble getting power back into it. That's fine, things happen and whilst it's an inconvenience to my wife and I, we understand that they have limited money and knowledge and they are trying. But boy are they also psychologically trying.

My wife is going to a ball tonight and I don't expect to see much of her this weekend to be honest. She spent large chunks of time away from the house the last time she was upset with my parents and I so I know what to expect (I know, expect nothing). Basically, I feel I have a pretty good handle on my situation despite it being in negative territory at the moment.