Barrybran - [Insert Original Thread Title Here]

[Barrybran]

Now that I've cooled down a bit I've had my first serious doubts about the future of my relationship with my wife. Some things had crept back in that made me feel that my thoughts and feelings weren't considered by her. I brushed it off as part of the process; something that would change with time and continued commitment to the process. My wife was good enough to respond to some feelings I wrote down and she unknowingly validated my thoughts about not considering my thoughts or feelings.

I'm not interested in returning to a 'my way or the highway' relationship, which is what it was prior to our problems. Throughout this process, I've learned what is important to me and who I want to be as an individual, as a husband, as a father and as a member of my community. I'm happy with where I'm at and where I'm going. I have some issues to continue to work on with how I respond to the kids, something that my wife addressed when she responded to my thoughts this morning. My kids are becoming increasingly manipulative, ignorant and difficult to deal with and I know it's only going to get worse. My wife has refused to work with me, instead choosing to tell me what she thinks is wrong about the way I deal with the kids and leaving it up to me figure it out. Granted, it ultimately is up to me and if I wind up as a single Dad, I'll figure it out. Part of being in a partnership however is working as a team and my wife appears uninterested in working together, even for the benefit of our children.

So I'm somewhat doubtful about the road ahead. My wife cited that I am incredibly busy lately, and I am with work, uni and looking after the kids and house. My life isn't where I would like it to be and I am still figuring out how to include fitness and being able to set aside quality time for the kids. My life at the moment is very much 'on the fly' as I study when I'm alert and fit in down time when ever I can because I know I can't afford to set time aside for myself.