Trouble in Paradise

Updated on March 11, 2009
L.M. asks from Aurora, CO
6 answers

I love my husband very much. He is my best friend and we have been together for almost 14 years in total. There was a period in our relationship that was rocky, mostly my fault, let me stress that I NEVER cheated on him. But the idea was put into his head by certain people at the time. This rough period happened over 12 years ago. We worked things out and eventually got married and have two incredible kids. Here's the problem, he never really let go of what had happened. Once in a while, he will make an inappropriate comment like "Hey kids, does mommy ever have anyone come over when daddy's not at home and have you call him uncle?" Or he will say over and over again - like a broken record - "Have you cheated on me?" or "Are you seeing someone else?" He claims he is only being funny, but it's not. I have spoken openly about how I treated him badly and regret it since he never deserved it, I was being young and stupid. He believes I am hiding something from him. I have tried reassuring him, arguing with him, reasoning with him, yelling at him...nothing works. What's ironic is that I believe he did something inappropriate with a girl during that time, but I have never asked about it because I felt that my behavior pushed him to it - if he did do something. I have trust and faith in our relationship and that he loves me and the kids. Most of the time, everything's fine. It's that once in a blue moon that he behaves like this that is driving me nuts. I don't know how much longer I can put up with it. Not knowing when he is going to have one of those jealous bad days. I can't talk to him when he gets like that. He has a tendency to twist my words and push my buttons. I don't want to ignore him and pretend everything is okay. At the same time, my words have had little to no affect on him. I can't imagine leaving him over this, it seems much to small of an issue to end a marriage that is normally wonderful. So, what can I do? It hurts me everytime he gets like this.

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M.G.

answers from Denver on

Hmmm. He sounds waaay too insecure and needy. Tell him to man up. I'm sorry I can't give you any advise, as it seems you have already done what you can, but I would stress to him that even if he is "joking" he is never to bring the kids into it. That's just crossing the line, and is completely intolerable. I agree it's not something to end the marriage over, but I would just remind him, every time, that he is being insecure and irrational, and it needs to stop. I'm sorry you have to put up with such nonsense.

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H.M.

answers from Denver on

Have you ever read the 5 Love Languages?? Maybe he's not hearing you reassuring him because it's not being spoken in his love language and vice versa. Hang in there!!!

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S.B.

answers from Denver on

It does sound like the two of you need to talk to someone. a good marital therapist might be able to get him to open up and find out why he is hanging on to those feelings. Doesn't sound like he has ever forgiven you and maybe still thinks you are not faithful. A good marital therapist can help. My practice is in southeast Denver and there are lots of good therapists in the metro area. If he's not interested in therapy, try some of the good books or programs you can find out about at www.smartmarriages.com

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A.M.

answers from Denver on

LM, it appears we are talking about something that happened over 12 years ago, prior to your marriage and blessing your lives with children. I am not sure why a secure and faithful man would continuously put his and his family's happiness in jeopardy over something so old and negative when it doesn't speak life or love or induce good feelings between you. He has a need to create discourse between you and he needs to understand why in order to stop it. Some would say that he has obvious low self esteem or may be currently involved in what he is accusing you of. While it would be reasonable to assume both, I dare not subscribe to it. It's deeper than what he's conveying and what you are arguing about is only the symptom, not the sore. Please, for the sake of your own self esteem and a healthy family enviornment for your children, seek and actively work it out with a professional, get therapy. Your husband has issues with trust and the (immature) way he recruits his children to validate your trustworthiness is truly damaging; whether he knows it or not, he is setting them up for all kinds of relationship trust issues, i.e., your boys (if you have boys) may very well grow up believing women are not to be trusted and worse, see their mom as one whose word has no honor/value; I know you don't want that for them. Please encourage your husband to work this out with you in counseling, you cannot do it yourselves--you are still "discussing" this non-event more than 10 years later and it has nothing to do with treating him badly prior to marriage. Good luck! You are not alone!

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C.Y.

answers from Denver on

It may take a neutral 3rd party to help you guys work through the lingering issues. I've found the folks at Bear Valley Counseling to be very helpful. Their website is www.bvcounseling.org.

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K.A.

answers from Denver on

Please get some help!Reaching out here is a great first step! It does seem like a small issue, but the small ones when left to themselves can be big enough to break up a marraige. Talk to your husband an see if he would be willing to get counseling, but even if he's not you should. I have had things in my owm marraige that created enough of a wound in my heart that they were still coming up years later. For me I learned how to really actually forgive and let go through my church. They have a great couseling program, and great people. It sounds like your husband is struggleing with the same kind of thing. However even if he isn't ready to deal with this yet you can learn how to until he is. Here is the web site of the church that helped me so much therock.org. Check it out. If that's not for you find some place that you can talk with a counselor. Your marraige is too important both for you and your children.

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