Paul asks…

Why does my husband put me second?

No matter what the situation, my husband will always place his parents feelings, wants and desires above mine. He has said that he is afraid that if he stands up to his parents that they will cut him off, which they have in the past by not speaking to him for 2 years because he took my side once, so it is safer for him to fight with me than with them. Okay, I’ve seen what he is talking about and I understand his fears, but I’m fed up with his choice to have peace with his parents instead of me. We have been married for 19 years with 2 pre teen children. I’ve lost out on years and years of holidays with my family because he would fight and fight and fight until I agreed to make plans with his family first regardless of my families schedule. I feel used, abused and not particular honorable towards him anymore. Our marriage is legal, but I can’t believe that we are married in God’s eyes simply because he has never left his parents to cleave to me. We did go to counseling about 6 years into our marriage through our church and I was told that the church would support a divorce if I wanted to leave because the only marriage vow he had kept, (or I could not prove he had broken) was that of fidelity. I’m getting more miserable and depressed as each year goes on. Is there anyone out there with a similar situation? If so how have you been able to cope?
I was just barely 18 when I got married, so NO I didn’t know anything, I was very young and naive. Our latest 3 day fight was over this Thanksgiving. Divorcing is much easier said than done.

MarriageCounseling answers:

I hav’nt been in that situation.. But if your talking to him and telling him how your feeling and he STILL does the same things, then maybe you should opt for a divorce. Especailly if even your church is supporting it… Thats gotta raise some red flags there. But if I were you, I would talk to him one last time about it. Thanksgivings coming up and maybe you should make him go to your family’s hosue for it. If he refuses, then either take the kids with you or go to your family’s by yourself… Thats majorly messed up that your own husband keeps you from your own family on holidays…

What a selfish a-hole. ..
But seriously.. .try talking one last time.. Tell him what you told us and also tell him that you can’t and won’t take it anymore.. When he said his vows, he promised to put you before EVERYONE else. And he hasn’t done it. And tell him that too… You deserve to be happy and to be with a man who doesn’t put his parents infront of his own wife. I hope you can work it out or find the strength to move on. =]

David asks…

What can I do about my husband getting temporary custody of my daughter in Texas?

My husband kicked me out of our apartment in January and served me with divorce papers on February 14 of this year. He has an attorney, but because he kicked me out with no money, I wasn’t able to afford one. Along with the petition for divorce, there was a request for temporary custody of our four year old daughter. Our court date was set for March 5. Around the end of February I talked him into going to counseling with me to try and save our marriage. Because of this, he assured me that he talked to his attorney and put the divorce “on hold”. I never got anything in writing stating this though. Neither one of us showed up for our court date in March. I was under the impression that the court date was going to be moved to another date or the divorce would just be dropped. Because he kicked me out, I had to move home to my parent’s house that was three hours away from where me and my husband lived. We “traded” our daughter out every other week, making sure that we both had equal time with her. When he decided to quit counseling, he told me that he wanted to go ahead with the divorce. I still was not able to afford an attorney. I applied for legal aid and called every women’s shelter or help I could find. (Still haven’t received any calls back from anyone.) All the attorneys I talk to are wanting to charge at least $4000 to get started. Even though I got a job, I don’t have anywhere near that amount of money. He told me that he was putting her in school and that I would only be able to see her on the weekends. I begged him not to do that because I have to work EVERY weekend at my job and I have two days off DURING the week that I could take care of her. I asked him if he would let me have her during the week and he could have her on the weekends because he’s off every weekend. He refused. When I got her this last time, I called him and told him that I was keeping her. I’m paying her insurance and even got medicaid and food stamps for her. I enrolled her in pre-k because I was informed that I had to do this while getting government help. My problem is that he was able to get temporary custody of her. I’m sure that he was able to do this because I didn’t go to the court date in March and maybe the judge gave our case a default judgement. He came yesterday with a sheriff’s deputy and took her away. What can I do? I need my daughter with me. She LOVES her school and begged her grandfather to not make her go with him. I’m confused and worried about this whole situation. If there are any attorneys in Texas that can help me, please let me know…
Yes… This is awfully long. And I’m extremely worried and stressed out. I need help, not statements about how long my questions is…
I did check to make sure that there is no other court date. So far, there is nothing on the docket and the clerk said that NOTHING has been done with this case. No new information on it. Also… I honestly cannot think of another reason why the judge would give him temporary custody except for the fact that neither of us went to court in March. I’ve done nothing else…

MarriageCounseling answers:

This is awfully long.

Nancy asks…

Contraception & Catholicism?

Hi,

My boyfriend and I are looking to get engaged. He is a practicing Catholic and I am spitiual but not religious. I was christened Church of England. I am taking the pill for health reasons which my boyfriend is aware of. Do you think this will be a problem during our pre-marriage religious counselling? My doctor has told me theres nothing else I can take and Im scared of what the priests will say.

I appreciate you help! Thanks
My boyfriend is a practicing Catholic (doesnt have pre-martial sex) and I accept that. I am on the pill for health (not contraceptive) reasons

MarriageCounseling answers:

It is acceptable to take the Pill for medical reasons. You need not mention it to the priest.

“On the other hand, the Church does not consider at all illicit the use of those therapeutic means necessary to cure bodily diseases, even if a foreseeable impediment to procreation should result there from—provided such impediment is not directly intended for any motive whatsoever.” (Humanae Vitae 15)
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html

Sandra asks…

Are marriage licenses given the same day you apply for them?

so my boyfriend and i are planning to get married in september. he’s a marine stationed in japan though, which means he would be here to apply for a license three months prior to the wedding which is how long the license is valid for. we’re not engaged yet because at the moment we’re receiving pre-marriage counseling at our church, so we feel it wouldn’t make sense to apply before i even have a ring on my finger. so the only thing i could think of doing is to apply for a license the day after the wedding (that is of course if the license is given the very same day you apply for it.) and that way he’ll be there and it wont interfere with his 30 days of leave we have to enjoy as newly weds. so can it be done? please and thank you :)
in california :)

MarriageCounseling answers:

In California there’s no waiting period for a marriage license.
Best of luck to you and your Marine boyfriend.

Semper Fi

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George asks…

Can couples/marriage counseling actually increase desire??

I was wanting some real life experiences to be posted. My longtime GF (7 years) and I need some sexual counseling (she has no desire anymore, the 1st 5 years were great, we have talked and talked and we decided on counseling) stories/results. I have talked to older men (we’re only 23) and they tell me to run while I can b/c desire doesn’t change, meaning we can go for counseling but it will never change the desire factor. I don’t want to get married and have kids and then get stuck with no sex for the rest of my life, does counseling work? I hope this doesn’t sound selfish, I love her and have been completely faithful even though we haven’t had sex in two years. I’m just trying to make a life decision. I would prefer female advice/experience, most older guys have told me to leave before marriage and kids, while I still have a chance. I wanted to hear the woman’s perspective. Thanks…
Yeah, we’ve also only been with each other.

MarriageCounseling answers:

First what will it hurt if you give it a try. I say try everything you can to salvage your relationship. Yes it can help. Maybe you will understand some issues she has and why she does not want to have sex. She might want to see a regular doctor to see if she has other problems. There might be medical problems making her have a low sex drive. Work on it. If you love her you can work things out. Some people just think its easier to walk away. If things don’t work out then you can always leave LATER. Stress can play a big factor in sex to. Remember loving someone in good times and bad is what LOVE is all about.
Good Luck.

Ken asks…

How will counseling help a marriage?

I am so fed up with my husband’s laziness to get his license and drive when i have to do all the driving, Him living on SSI and not trying to get a job and succeed, and Sleeping until twelve in the afternoon and making me get up with our daughter. I hate being married to him!!! Will counseling even help me with the tromendous amount of reluctance I have to stay in the marriage? I work every week night. I hate living with him! Plus we do not get along. I married him when i was young and stupid. I think it will take a miracle to make me want to stay, not counseling. Any advice?

MarriageCounseling answers:

I’m in marriage couseling now and i think it’s helping. Sometimes i’m so frustrated w/ my husband that i can barely speak and our discussions turn into full blown yelling fest, but at counseling, we have a mediator to help us. And using the mediator/cousnelor, we can commuincate. Plus, it’s always good to have an unbiase opinon. My marriage cuosnelor agrees w/ me and states that my opinons are valid, so i feel validated. Of coruse, now my husband is saying the marraige cousnelor and i are “ganging up” on him, but that’s a whole other session…..lol

i’ve been 3 times. Working out. Ask me in about 6 months. :0

ps. Even if it doesnt work out, you know you tried your best. And hopefully you can have an amicable divorce.

Maria asks…

advice needed from marriage veterans….?

My husband and I have been married 1 year. We both met and fell in love quickly – we are in our 30s. We got married 8 months later. Since then — its just been issue after issue, adjustment after adjustment, drama after drama…..it just feels like there is an emotional fight every week.

There always seems to be a lot of tension. We both have issues. I go to counseling to deal with trauma from my past. We go to marriage counseling to learn to communicate better….but I really feel that he has AS MUCH baggage and sometimes more as me. much of it that he is unaware of and wont’ acknowledge — but ends up being extremely defensive and “snappy” about things if it is discussed.

Sometimes I wonder how much “drama”/adjustment/and fighting is normal in the first year of marriage….did I make a big mistake? I know two people need to want it — we both want it…..but sometimes I CRAVE the simplicity of being alone and not having to deal with constant interpersonal drama.

thoughts and comments?

thank you.
Wow — completely different sets of ideas of what “most couples” do…interesting!

MarriageCounseling answers:

Marriage has no guarantees. If that’s what you’re looking for, go live with a car battery.

Daniel asks…

Need advice on my marriage?

I am married to an overall good person but latley he has took a nose dive and is ruinning our marriage. He has mental problems first of all. He was diagnosed with severe moderate depression and pshycotic features. He has been hospitialized cause he said he was going to kill himself. He told our kids that too. He already had the gun out and all and scared the hell out of our middle kid. They changed his meds and he said he felt fine after a week there. But since then and even before then he has been self medicating by drinking alot taking to much of his meds and gettting high with them and has started smoking pot. he seems to think he doesnt have a problem. he can get very verbally abusive when he gets like this and doesnt remember things. I have suggested he stop and he says he will but then turns around and keeps doing it. I am so sick of it and dont know what else to do. I have told him how i feel and he says that it will be ok. I am seriously thinking of taking my kids and leaving cause I dont know how much more I can deal with. To get through my days I have been taking anti-depressants too. But I shouldnt have to take pills to live with someone. I have suggested marriage counseling but he said he sees no need for that.

So what do yall think?
I know that this doesnt give me an excuse but he isnt abusive or anything to the kids. They love their dad and are not scared of him. But I just dont want them to grow up like this.
He says that going to a therapist is a waste of time and money that they dont do anything for him. And he has told me if i ever leave him he will kill his self
And I just want everyone to know that I have stood by his side through everything trying to get him help and being supportive but just isnt enough. If it hadnt been for me he would never have went to a therapist in the first place now he says their just quacks
All i can think about is how i want to leave but how hurt he will be if i take me and the kids out of the picture. he says if he loses me and the kids he has nothing left and that he will lose his best friend and wife. he works hard to take care of us as i am a stay at home mom by his choice and I have to make a plan to leave and have some help cause i have no family that I can stay with or that can help me finacially. Everything we have is in his name including my car. I have nothing.

MarriageCounseling answers:

I am not going to go all into this by typing in exactly what i think as i feel i will be here all day! So, in a nutshell sweetheart, i think you have answered your own question by what you have said about him and how its made you feel. Seems to me like he is behond real help and he does not seem bothered about it either. If he cant be bothered getting the help he needs, then why should you be bothered! It seems like you have really tried hard, but at the end of the day, its left you with just 2 options and they are ” should i stay, and suffer some more with the children”? Or “should i go for my own sanity and the childrens welfare”? I think you should end all this now and leave,because you need to think about yours and the childrens happiness now, because staying will continue to effect both you and your children, and thats not fair on either of you. You deserve better, for all your sakes. Good luck and i hope this helps.

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