Hi there ! i really need your advice! My husband and I are going through a difficult period and I would really appreciate an outside perspective.
He works a lot, earns significantly more than I do and spends much of his time away for work. My job is more flexible, so I handle most of the day-to-day life with our 10-year-old: school, activities, appointments, holidays, pick-ups, as well as much of the cooking, cleaning, groceries, household organisation and our dog. Sometimes I stop working to deal with family responsibilities and then work late at night to make up the hours.
I recognise that my husband works extremely hard and contributes much more financially. What hurts is that despite everything I do, he criticises how I manage things and has called me a bad mother, a bad wife and a “selfish bitch.” Money is also sometimes brought up during arguments.
I also feel increasingly emotionally neglected. He seems to have time and energy for work, our child and friends, but very little for me. When I try to explain how I feel, I often feel like he wants a quick, precise answer rather than actually having a conversation with his wife.
Our child has even started noticing the tension and trying to comfort me, which worries me a lot.
I know I am far from perfect and I am absolutely willing to recognise my own mistakes. But lately I have started wondering whether my husband still genuinely wants this marriage, or whether we are simply keeping the family functioning.
Am I expecting too much? How would you see this situation from the outside?