It seems you are doing a lot of ASSuming there! You need to put positive thoughts in your head when you do that. I have a lot to talk about because I'm the queen of ASSuming!
I think it was good you talked about the eye contact. It is alright to "ask for what you want". Sometimes you must pick your wars wisely, but, by all means don't shut up and stick your head in the sand.
One of the problems you seem to be having are learning to shut down those "bad" gut feelings. The only thing is sometimes you need to keep them to yourself because you "dog" your H constantly about your fears. I think like someone suggested here you need to have a talk once a week about such feelings and then let it drop.
Glad to hear you are working on the coop! I love being considered a homesteader and living off the land, raising my own food, heating the house most of the time with a wood burner!
