Topic : Balancing Marriage and Family

Number of Replies: 1299
New Messages This Week: 0
Last Reply On:
Created on : Friday, July 01, 2005, 05:00:43 pm
Author : dataimport
Adding a family means big changes in a marriage. Tell us how you've succeeded or struggled to manage both.

User Mood
Touched

Message Emote
blank
July 31, 2006, 4:59 pm PDT

Balancing Marriage and Family

Quote From: krysta

This is my first time here so im not sure what to say. I Love the Dr.Phil show and watch him everyday. He makes me feel so much better just listening to him helping other people. Anyway, I know I talk a lot so forgive me in advance. Im a 20 yr old wife(5yrs) and Mother of Three ( 6 yr old girl, 4 yr old boy , and 3 yr old boy). I suffer from depression "wanna guess why", Well I was raped at the ageof 13 and got pregnant because of that ( my daughter). I got pregnant at 16 because my husband was poking holes in the condoms. Got married at 16. Had my third child at 17 ( total shock) . So people should now understand why im so depressed. I also dealt with a bad childhood. my dad was physically, emotionally, and verbally abusive towards my mother, and emotionally and verbally abusive to me and my brother and sister. I hate my life. Dont get me wrong my kids are my world and i love them to death but because of my father Im to hard on them. I want to change but dont know how. me and my husband fight all the time because im not happy with myself or my life . we've been living with his parents since we got married so now i hate his mother. I dont know what to do. I just thought that if i had support somehow it might help. Well who knows, thanks for listening, or reading. 

   Hi Krysta

I love The Dr. Phil Show and this site too. There is so much info on so many subjects. When one has more than one problem it can seem overwhelming. If you look at each thing by itself it does not seem as bad. If you see a Dr. he can help you with the depression and possibly find you a therapist for the horrible rape, parenting issues, relationships and marriage. The internet is a great resource and so is the library. Dr. Phil and others have written books about all kinds of problems that many of us need help with at sometime or another in our lives. Try working on one thing that is bothering you and you will get some good feelings. Search this web site as there are all kinds of problems addressed here.

Keep us posted as to how you are doing  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
User Mood
Depressed

Message Emote
worried
July 31, 2006, 8:43 pm PDT

Thanks Jennifer

Quote From: leolibra69

I totally and completely understand your situation I am too in the same financial boat as you. We have more debt than we have income. The only  thing I can say is have you tried to sit down and calmly talk and explain to her how you feel and ask her if she is open to therapy for couples or even for yourself. I have gone that way. I know the struggles of not having enough to go around. Then you have to decide whether you should pay the electric or the water or cut the bills in half just to try to have more money. Then that can end up putting you farther behind. There is no simple answer but you have to try with everything you have inside of you to try to work it out. I also have been married for almost 14 yrs in Nov. We just try to keep afloat there is hardly any breathing room financially. We have three children that places a strain on our marriage also let alone the finances. But some hoe we do it it is a daily struggle. I hope this helps in some small way. 

Jennifer 

Jennifer, First let me thank you because you are the only one to even offer advice in the last 3 months that I have been battling with this. I have tried to sit down but the only answers i get are answers that she thinks I want to hear. It is quite obvious that what I say and what she hears is two totally different things. I even went as far as writing down ways to fix and work on our problems. I thought we agreed on it, but she turned around and broke 5 of our new "rules" in 1 nite. I thought maybe if she wrote it, it would mean more to her. Wrong again. Her list consisted of everything wrong with me. I have quit everything in my life and don't want this to be the next thing I quit. I have a potential job (career) offer for $18 an hour, but it is a union job and I won't be at home much. I am not sure I can do that to my girls. I think she is so mad and hateful to me that she is unable to see anything positive. I am not sure money would solve our problems, I just want her to laugh and smile and want to be with me. I am at a cross road right now in my life as for a career but i am undicided as to what to do because of our homelife ( or lack There of). I guess I am looking for someone to tell me what is the right thing to do so I know how everything will turn out. I can't be the only one to give 100%. It seems she is pulling away from me and has put up an emotional wall. Should I do the same or just wait it out? I can't believe her if she says she needs space, because if she does, that means it's space without me. If she doesn't, then that means she want to be without me. Where do I turn? and how do I prepare. Better yet, How can I stop it all from happening?
 
User Mood
Depressed

Message Emote
blank
August 1, 2006, 3:33 am PDT

Best advice yet

Quote From: brandyfra

My husband and I have been arguing all day. It first started when I woke up to see that our 7month old son had no formula and my husband took ALL the money to work with him except what he had in our safety deposit box at home. I got in it and got some money out to get our son some formula because I could not get intouch with my husband. When my husband finally called I had already left the house so I told him what I did and he got very mad at me for taking the money(even though it was to get our son formula). When he got mad and started yelling at me over the phone I told him that I have had it with his attitude and told him I was going to leave so we (me and our kids) wouldnt be such an incovience to him anymore. When I got home to get some stuff together he wasnt here so I had some time to cool off and think about things before I left. I found out he had taken ALL the money in the safety box to work with him well he took the whole box.  On top of him not helping me with the kids and the household chores he wants to be an ass about the money and stuff. I am so stressed out all the time i find myself crying. I wrote my husband an email to tell him we needed to sit down and talk about our problems. When he got home he read it and I basically wasted my time and made my carpal tunnel flare up by typing it. He didnt want to talk about anything he just wanted to sit infront of the computer and let people tell him how to spend his money(money that we dont really have). I asked him to get up and pick his military gear up and put all of it in one spot...That doesnt get done he is sleeping in the recliner right now like I never asked him to do anything. I am at my wits end. I dont know what to do. He doesnt want to talk about our problems he never wants to spend anytime together. He would rather sleep than spend time with his family.  I need some help....Do I leave and make him realize he has a great family? or do I wait and see if things will get better. I have left before but he told me he was going to kill himself so all of our money problems will go away and our kids will never have to want for anything because if he dies I get 250,000 $. That just broke my heart because I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. HELP ME PLEASE!!!
I read that you told him to pick up his military gear. Have you tried a support group with the service. My sugguestion is that you go talk with his CO. This way he can't hurt you and you and your family are safe. His CO should also make sure he gets help in his personal life. If you love him and you want to try to make it work, and if nothing has changed him this far, I think you should try talking with the CO 1 last time b4 you leave. By the way, if he kills himself while off duty, no ins $. the only way $ is paid for killing yourself is if you are a POW. he won't even get a Military funeral! go talk with the CO or even the chaplin. Please keep us posted!
 
User Mood
Stressed

Message Emote
blank
August 1, 2006, 12:40 pm PDT

jettav

Quote From: jettav

I would suggest that you continue to communicate with your husband but at the same time don't stress over things at home, as far as the household chores, don't be afraid to let some things go, I have learned that stressing over things oly makes things worse. Only do what needs to be done and the rest will be there waiting.............Look for ways to make things easier at home for yourself, freeze leftovers and every couple of days or so, heat em up and that's dinner, You can alsways keep easy preparation foods around for when some one might get hungry, keep a tray in the refrig with fruits, veggies, cheese, whatever for easy access..................and so what if the dishes set in the sink for one night or the dishwasher doesn't get emptied for one night. Whatever the case, let your husband know that you plan on making life esaier on yourself and let him know that you are going to prioritize things in the order that they NEED to be done but to expect you to only do what you feel up to do, he can either pitch in and help or deal witht e fact that something, once ina while is gonna be let go so you can relax and enjoy yourself and family. I hoestly looked at my husband a while back as he was complainin about something andI told him, if you are not going to hlepwitht his situation then you have no right to complain so leave me alone and he did. ANd he has learned that I have a lot more respect fo r him when he pitches in and gvies me a hand istead of grumpin and complainin and my little ones, even as young as they are are learning the same concept............You can't change him but you can find ways to change yourslef and to make life easier for you, you deserve it, quit stressing and remember,w e teach people how to treat us.
i understand what your saying but. i already do all that stuff.  i just feel like that it is unfair for me to work two jobs and come and work some more and he get to work only 8 hours and come home and relax and do nothing.  he wouldn't care if the house was trashed because his family has never been the cleanest and even when my house is at it's worse its still cleaner than theirs so he thinks that there is nothing wrong with our home.  and i don't mind if the dishes are the sink the day or that toys are all over.  but i do mind when there are dishes left all over the house and i find food wrappers all the floor or food crammed into the floor.  i just don't know what else to do
 
User Mood
Depressed

Message Emote
sad
August 2, 2006, 2:15 pm PDT

WAKE UP!

Quote From: brandyfra

My husband and I have been arguing all day. It first started when I woke up to see that our 7month old son had no formula and my husband took ALL the money to work with him except what he had in our safety deposit box at home. I got in it and got some money out to get our son some formula because I could not get intouch with my husband. When my husband finally called I had already left the house so I told him what I did and he got very mad at me for taking the money(even though it was to get our son formula). When he got mad and started yelling at me over the phone I told him that I have had it with his attitude and told him I was going to leave so we (me and our kids) wouldnt be such an incovience to him anymore. When I got home to get some stuff together he wasnt here so I had some time to cool off and think about things before I left. I found out he had taken ALL the money in the safety box to work with him well he took the whole box.  On top of him not helping me with the kids and the household chores he wants to be an ass about the money and stuff. I am so stressed out all the time i find myself crying. I wrote my husband an email to tell him we needed to sit down and talk about our problems. When he got home he read it and I basically wasted my time and made my carpal tunnel flare up by typing it. He didnt want to talk about anything he just wanted to sit infront of the computer and let people tell him how to spend his money(money that we dont really have). I asked him to get up and pick his military gear up and put all of it in one spot...That doesnt get done he is sleeping in the recliner right now like I never asked him to do anything. I am at my wits end. I dont know what to do. He doesnt want to talk about our problems he never wants to spend anytime together. He would rather sleep than spend time with his family.  I need some help....Do I leave and make him realize he has a great family? or do I wait and see if things will get better. I have left before but he told me he was going to kill himself so all of our money problems will go away and our kids will never have to want for anything because if he dies I get 250,000 $. That just broke my heart because I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. HELP ME PLEASE!!!

Run, do not walk, to the nearest Family Court to get an order of child support.  Then speak to his commanding officer about whether the army can handle his pay so that the welfare of you and the kids are protected.

We are not talking about extravagance.  He left you without money to FEED YOUR BABY!!  And, then he got mad at  you for taking some cash so your baby could be nourished?  Your H is not in touch with reality.  There is no bill, no debt that should be paid before you put food in your child's mouth.  Do you realize that not providing your baby with food is, at best, neglect and, at worse, child abuse?  You could be facing the child protective authorities who've come to place your baby in foster care if your H sucessfully protects his cash instead of his child!

You need to get into therapy to work out what is going on in your marriage.  If you leave  just to make him realize he has a great family, you may be the one who comes to a realization, not him.  You may realize that he doesn't care.

All of the options you're considering have to do with the nature of the reaction you'll get from your H.  Excuse me, but that's a-backwards.  You don't leave to get a reaction out of him & you don't stay to "see if things will get better."  You figure out what you want and need and you make your greatest effort to find out if he's the man who is willing to work with you to make a good life.

He doesn't want to talk with you, or spend timewith the family, or sleep with you?  Honey, that ain't a marriage, that's a dungeon.  Can you save it, as you love him?  Maybe, but not by being the passive doormat you describe.

First- take care of your children's needs.  They must not be left vulnerable and unprotected.  You're their mother.  It's your job to protect them.  It's your H's job too, but if he's falling down on the job you are still responsible.

Secondly- you must take care of yourself, which means either making this marriage better or accepting that it's going nowhere and it's time to make a real, but different life for yourself & your kids.  To accomplish this second task, you have to convince H of how serious you are when you say that you're either in marriage counseling with him or you're not in this marriage at all. 

As for him killing himself if you go - that sounds like a controlling, manipulative tactic.  If he kills himself it's because of some very deep-seated personal problems that you didn't cause.  You can't be held hostage to a suicide threat.

Don't you see that he's really threatening you with homicide?  You're not living life.  You're in hell.  Now, even your baby is being exposed to harm.  You have got to do something now.

 
User Mood
Depressed

Message Emote
blank
August 2, 2006, 2:21 pm PDT

missing person

Quote From: krysta

This is my first time here so im not sure what to say. I Love the Dr.Phil show and watch him everyday. He makes me feel so much better just listening to him helping other people. Anyway, I know I talk a lot so forgive me in advance. Im a 20 yr old wife(5yrs) and Mother of Three ( 6 yr old girl, 4 yr old boy , and 3 yr old boy). I suffer from depression "wanna guess why", Well I was raped at the ageof 13 and got pregnant because of that ( my daughter). I got pregnant at 16 because my husband was poking holes in the condoms. Got married at 16. Had my third child at 17 ( total shock) . So people should now understand why im so depressed. I also dealt with a bad childhood. my dad was physically, emotionally, and verbally abusive towards my mother, and emotionally and verbally abusive to me and my brother and sister. I hate my life. Dont get me wrong my kids are my world and i love them to death but because of my father Im to hard on them. I want to change but dont know how. me and my husband fight all the time because im not happy with myself or my life . we've been living with his parents since we got married so now i hate his mother. I dont know what to do. I just thought that if i had support somehow it might help. Well who knows, thanks for listening, or reading. 
Hey Krysta- how are you doing.  We want to hear from you.  Have you read our posts to you?  What do you think?  We want to help you.
 
User Mood
Depressed

Message Emote
blank
August 2, 2006, 2:25 pm PDT

he's making you miserable

Quote From: lanamarie

I am 43, married for 18 years, 2 children, 1 step son, 4 dogs, 12 horses, 200 cows, rodeo life style, and no life.  

When my husband and I met I trained quarter horses and qualifed several for the world show, had my own life made a great living enjoyed being around people and thought life could only get better.  Now some  20 years later, I have a beautiful 15 yr old daughter that has won 8 all around saddles and about 100 buckles.  She just won the high school rodeo association all around the first year in high school.  I could not be prouder.  My 5 yr old son is the most precious child in the world, never meets a stranger, has met more celebrities than most people can only imagine.  He was born bilateral club footed and spent the first year of his life in cast on both legs from his diaper to his toes.  I spent every week traveling 4 hours to get him the best help possible.  From doctors to hospitals to well check ups to surgery, I love him unconditionally.  

Now my problem,  I do not work and bring home a paycheck.  I do however feel that I contribute very much, but I am told every day that I would be easy to replace.  That I am a fat, lazy and a  common b---- .  My day consist of breakfast for everyone after being up atleast 1 hour before everyone and when I say breakfast, I mean sausage, hashbrowns, biscuits, pancakes, eggs, fruit and gravy.  That is nearly everyday that my husband is home.  Feed all the animals, check over 200 cows and the pastures, mow the grass and weed eat.  Try to make logical decisions about my husband stock market investment (which never the least will always be wrong).  

I am lectured everyday about what I do not accomplish and just the other day I was told that I never have been good for anything.  I just don't know where things have gone so wrong.  Just this morning he took my sons toy gun and broke it against my arm because I spoke to him wrong.  Maybe I am at fault, maybe I am just the terrible mom and wife he tells me I am.  I just need to vent.  I will  keep writing another time cause I feel like I am complaining but I have no one to talk to because I am not allowed to not even my family, but thats a whole different story.    What a book my life could make.    

To all, thanks for listening.   

I've been checking for a recent post from you, but find none.  I, and others who read these posts, are concerned about you and the signs of abuse you report.  Let us know how you're doing.  We care.
 
User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
August 3, 2006, 7:13 pm PDT

Yes...

Quote From: saesq2

Hey Krysta- how are you doing.  We want to hear from you.  Have you read our posts to you?  What do you think?  We want to help you.
Krysta - we do hope to hear from you again.  I check this board every day hoping to see you have read the posts directed to you.  I hope you can feel our concern for you and how we want to support you as you go about improving your life and that of your 3 precious children.  Take care, be safe and we'll be hoping to see another post from you.  Hugs, Roxy
 
User Mood
Stressed

Message Emote
confused
August 5, 2006, 7:31 am PDT

Second Time Round and Feeling a Little Lost

My husband and I were married 4 years ago this December.  We were separated for 10 months just recently and have been back together now for 2 months.  Some things seem like they have changed and others haven't.  I am at a loss as to how to communicate with him becasue it is like dealing with a 6 year old.  Just last night we were watching Dr.Phil on sex differences in a marraige and he blew up at me in front of our 3 year old son because he feels we shold be having sex at least 3 times a week like all "normal" couples do.  I asked him if we could talk about it at a different time and not in front of our son becasue we would get into an arguement in front of him. And my husband just wouldn't let it go, I had to threaten to go for a walk to get a way from him before he would stop coming at me about it.  His life insurance is still in his sisters name.   When we were seperated, I made more money then him so he has a court order still in place stating I have to pay child support to him and that he has interim custody becasue I worked nights in a pub.  He won't have them dismissed.   He makes me feel incompetant and I am not sure how to erase that feeling.  I really want my marraige to work, but I can't go walking on eggshells the rest of my life.  Some advice would be greatly appreciated.   
 
User Mood
Mellow

Message Emote
blank
August 6, 2006, 4:57 pm PDT

Wife Just Doesn't Get it.

I will try to make this short.  My wife and I have been married for 10 years.  We have 2 children.  I was laid off from my job six months ago.  So we have been living off a fixed income while I go back to school.  The state is paying for me to go back to school plus full umemplymet for the next 2 years.  However, the pay is a third than what I use to make.  My wife works from home and make her own money ( $200 a week).   I pay all the bills and do the grocery shopping.  Now money has become tight.  We need to watch what we spend.  However, my wife has an expensive habit.  She likes to buy Diet Cokes from Burger King 3-4 times a day.  Now you might think this isn't much.  But at $2.04 a pop it can turn into $250 a month.  She says its her money and can spend it how ever she wants too and she is right.  She earns it and should be able to do what she wants.  What I have tried to help her understand  though is that she has some resposibilities financially to this family.  And when times are tough she need to make sacrifices and pitch in.  I have too. You can buy a2 liter of soda for .99.  A lot cheaper.   She is stubborn and won't budge.   Then she complains she doesn't have any money each week.  I don't know what else to do to help her understand that she needs to make some sacrifices also to help this family.   Any suggestions or comments?
 

First | Prev | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | Next | Last