Hello!
It's a pretty straightforward way of putting it, but the relationship is a bit more complex than that.
It looks like a third or even a fourth party has been introduced into your relationship.
Maybe at first, your marriage was just you and your spouse, and you were the ones keeping it together.
But then, your father joined in. Or you brought your father in to help with your relationship.
It's totally understandable! It seems like you're struggling to navigate your relationship with your spouse. It's natural to seek outside help when we're facing challenges in our relationships. Forming an alliance with your father might have been a way to find a solution to the problem. This is a common strategy in relationships, called triangulation.
It's a tricky situation when a relationship becomes triangularized by the involvement of a third party in order to resolve a problem.
I don't know how long you've been married, but I know you started taking your father's side about a year ago. What happened before that? What was your relationship like, and what affected your marriage? You probably wanted to bring your father into the alliance to solve a problem. Maybe you used filial piety to get your wife to do something you didn't want to do yourself, but that didn't solve your problem.
It's been a long road for you both. Your wife has been fighting for a long time, and has been fighting against the alliance between you and your father for a long time. But perhaps she found that she could not fight against the alliance between you and your father, and she probably did not want to end the marriage relationship so easily, so she also sought outside help, her mother, to fight against the alliance between you and your father.
So what was originally a relationship between you as a couple may now be between your parents. This can make things feel even more distant between you, and it might even lead to the dissolution of your marriage, which I really hope doesn't happen.
It's so true that the more people there are in a relationship, the more complicated it can become. There are so many things to consider! For example, originally, one of the spouses could have bowed their head, and the relationship could have been saved.
But if you include your parents, for the sake of your parents' feelings and authority, the person who could have bowed their head cannot do so, and then you can only separate.
Hi there! I noticed you wrote a question titled "My wife has a stubborn temper." I'm wondering if you could tell us a bit more about why you think she's stubborn and how stubborn she is. I'd love to hear more!
You say that you can change now, which is great! It just means that you haven't changed yet. I bet it's because you think that you can change only after your wife changes.
But your wife is a bit stubborn and reluctant to change, so it's understandable that you haven't changed either.
I'm not sure if I understand what you mean by "change." Have you talked to your wife about it? I think your wife has certain expectations and demands of you, but the changes you're talking about might not fully align with her expectations.
You're open to compromise, but it seems like your wife's expectations and demands are different. It's totally understandable! We all have different needs and expectations in relationships.
Of course, this is just theoretical speculation, and it doesn't represent your specific situation. Don't take it as such, but just as a different perspective for you to think about.
I totally get it. Nobody can answer whether you should get a divorce. And I really don't think you want one, deep down.
Otherwise, you wouldn't have asked the question, my friend.
I think the best thing you can do is try to get your wife and your parents out of the middle of your relationship. It's really tough to do, I know, but it might be the best thing for you and your wife.
The current four-cornered relationship is a solution to a problem, and it might be a bit tricky to change if the problem is not solved.
It's totally normal to feel like the changes you're making aren't having the desired effect. Sometimes, that's when it's really helpful to seek the support of a professional counselor.
It would be really great for you both if you could convince your wife to go to couples counseling together. If that's not possible for now, don't worry! You can still make some changes and put them into practice. That way, your wife will be able to see how you're trying to improve things.
I really do think that this rigid relationship can be loosened.
I'm a counselor who's often pessimistic and sometimes optimistic. I love you, the world, and I'm here to help!
Comments
I understand your frustration, but have you tried talking to her about how this pattern affects you? Maybe she isn't aware of the impact it has.
It seems like a challenging situation. Instead of jumping to divorce, could counseling help both of you communicate better and address these issues?
Feeling stuck in a conflict pattern is tough. Have you considered discussing your feelings openly with her or seeking relationship therapy together?
Divorce is a big step. Before making such a decision, perhaps try setting up a honest conversation where you both can express your feelings and concerns.
It's important to consider all options before deciding on divorce. Sometimes external support from a therapist can provide new tools for handling disagreements within the family.