22 answers

Husband Issues - Germantown,MD

Do you think it's appropriate for a husband to call the father-in-law, one in which he has only met a couple times, and divulge marital issues to him? My husband did this last night, knowing that I did not want to involve my dad in our marriage issues because he is not really involved in our lives and hasn't been involved much in my life since my mother passed away in 2001. Also, my dad gets worried very easily and has his own health issues to deal with at his age. I am just absolutely furious and outraged that my husband would do what he did last night, so much so that I told him to leave for the night. I think he was trying to control the situation and make himself out to be the victim and get sympathy from my dad. My husband has major irrational insecurities and I'm tired of it. I just wanted to see if my anger with him was legitimate.

What can I do next?

So What Happened?™

I have spoken with both my husband and my dad. My husband admitted that what he did was wrong and he did it without really thinking. He feels bad about it and admits to doing it only to manipulate the situation and get my dad on his side. After speaking with my dad, it made me realize another reason I did not want to involve him in my marital issues. I grew up with a hostile and abusive father. He started the abuse with my mother and when the police told him they would arrest him if he laid another hand on my mother, he then turned to physically abusing me. He had comments to make about my marriage that were so hypocritical, almost like he forgot the problems he had in his. I explained to him that all marriages have their issues, to different extents of course, but that my marriage is not as bad as my husband made it out to seem and that we don't physically abuse our children or each other. I did tell him that we were in counseling and that I made it clear to my husband he is not to go to my father again about our issues. That is what our counselor is for. Thank you for all your responses.

More Answers

Issues between a husband and wife should stay between the husband and wife. If anyone on the outside should be involved, it should be your preacher or marital counselor. Family members can almost never be objective and it's not fair to involve them.

Sometimes husbands don't behave in a way we think they should because we (their wives) don't allow them to be the head of our household. I have read, and strongly encourage every married woman to read "Created To Be His Help Meet". It was written by Debi Pearl.

I grew up in the 70's with the attitude that I should be able to run along side my husband. The responsibilities of the wife are much different than what I was taught. This book has made my marriage a very enjoyable one and my husband is my best friend.

Please give it a try.

1 mom found this helpful

I have not read the other responses, so this may be redundant, but your anger is completely justified. It is totally inappropriate for either of you to involve others, particularly family members, no matter how close or distant, in your marital arguments. You might want to see about going to see a marriage counselor to help the two of you to communicate better. Good luck.

Yes, I would say that the anger is legitimate. People do sometimes need to vent to a friend, but venting to your spouse's family is over the edge.

I personally feel that marital issues are between the two people involved and that it is not appropriate to be draggin family into them. Long after the issue has been resolved by the parties, family will hold a grudge.

With that, your husband contacted YOUR father, with whom neither of you have a close relationship for the purpose of telling him something to make himself feel better at the expense of you and your father.

I would be PISSED!

It is time for counseling, if you are not already in it.

The Bible says a man should leave father and mother and cling to his wife. what your husband did was wrong and will not help your marriage. Getting angry and losing your cool will not help either. There may be underlying issues here. If you cannot calmly talk this out together then maybe you should consider counseling. AF

Hi, Karen,

No, that was not appropriate at all!! If you husband needs to "vent" then let him do it with his best friend or a good therapist. Or even YOU.

I would seriously advise you BOTH to find a good counselor and get into couples counseling. Counseling saved my 30-year marriage back in the day. Get on the phone Monday and find someone good. If your husband won't go, then YOU go alone to start.

Good luck & God bless,

Pam H.
Westminster, MD

Hey KZ, thank you for sharing your story. It is okay to be upset. God says that it's okay to be angry, but sin not. I would have been too girl. I went thru the same thing that you are currently going thru, but except it was with him going to his mom. For you and your house, you cannot allow anyone else to come in, meaning the father in law. It's going to take some time to sit down with your husband, when it's the right time and God will show you when its the best time to talk to your husband. To let him know that every time there is a problem, that you guys need to work it out together and don't allow other outside influences come in. Everyone is not always going to give your husband or you the right advice. Don't allow the enemy (the devil), to come in and destroy your love and marriage with your husband. You stand in the gap for your marriage and let God take over and he will work it out. And how you do that is by going to your secret place and telling God how you feel and what you are beleiving Him to do for you. Then leave it at His feet and just continue to love on your husband girl. Sow good seeds in your marriage and God will honor that and work on your husband in reguards to running to your father every time there is a problem. That's not putting faith and trust in the Lord. He's running to man to fix the problem rather than God. We are suppose to leave mother and father and cleave to our sponses. So KZ, girl, hang in there and don't let the enemy get your flesh all worked up when God has already fixed this situation. I pray right now that God will bring peace to you and your husband and your home and I bind the devil right now in the name of Jesus!!! Devil, you have NO PLACE IN KZ AND HER HUSBAND'S HOME!! HER HUSBAND IS THE HEAD OF THEIR HOME, NOT THE TAIL!! THEY ARE ABOVE AND NOT BENEATH!! YOUR WORKS ARE DESTROYED RIGHT NOW IN JESUS NAME!! THERE MARRIAGE WILL NOT BE BROKEN OR DESTROYED OVER FOOLISHNESS!!! IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS, AMEN!! Well girl, I pray that this helps you and blesses you! You can take so much advice from other people, but, when it doesn't line up with the word of God, it's bound to fail every time. Remember girl, you can do all things thru Christ which strenghthens you!!! Now, go love on your husband girl and give that situation to God!! Take care and have a good nite!! love ya! :)

Hi, I'm a SAHM, married 12 yrs with 3 girls..and yes, I believe you have a right to be angry at your husband.
That being said, there are always 2 sides to every story, and it might be helpful to step back from the situation and think: What am I not sharing/giving/doing with my husband that he is seeking advice outside of our marriage? What issues are my husband and I not facing together, that he seeks resolution outside the marriage?

I think you need to sit down for a long talk (or go on a long walk) with your husband and get straight to the point about the "irrational securities" he has, and perhaps discuss why you are so distant with your father. Perhaps if both of you are able to get some of your frustrations out in the open, he won't seek counsel elsewhere.

At least he didn't go seek advice from another woman...right? After all, even though you might have issues with your dad, maybe your husband's heart is in the right place.

Wishing you the best,
M.

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