"He
wants some space- Should I trust or argue?"
I am looking for help and
I believe you can help me in answering my
question.
I've been married for about
a year. My husband and I have a very good
relationship because first
of all we are friends. I was used to hanging
out with friends when I
was single. But now that I am married, that idea never crossed my
mind. The other day my husband told me that he sometimes would like
to go out alone. I was very disappointed, but If I
don't give him that trust
maybe he would go on his on and he would not
tell me. He even told
me that I can go out with my friends once in
while If I like- that he
trusts me.
I am very confused, I don't
know if this is normal or not. I need you to
advice me and tell me if
it OK or if I should watch his steps closely? I am a very jealous
person and I don't know if I can accept it
so easily.
I need your help.
He is a very mature person and he tells me that
sometimes couples need their
own space to appreciate more their partner and would be able to miss them.
I need your help and tell
me if I should trust or argue.
Thank you
Dear Friend....
It sounds like you are very
insecure in your relationship with your
husband because of your
jealousy and fear about his request. Every
couple needs boundaries
to protect their relationship without
imprisoning them in it but
allowing each spouse enough freedom for trust and personal development.
I would suggest that you
read Loving
Your Marriage Enough to Protect It by Jerry Jenkins found
our resources page.
This book will help you and your husband discuss the reasonable boundaries
you can agree to put into practice when you are each in situations where
you have contact with the opposite sex, ie., work, church, socials, recreation,
etc.
Then, I would suggest that
you come up with your own requests which will make you feel more
secure in your marriage but not make your husband feel inadequate to meet
your needs and guilty when he wants time to himself.
You both need to care enough
about your relationship to tell each other
where you are going, with
whom and for how long. Personally, my husband and I have always told
each other where we are going and what time we will be home.
If my husband told me he
was going to a bar, I would be very concerned about that. Why?
Because if he was sitting in a bar he might meet other women and because
he would be drinking alcohol he would
be tempted him to do things
he might not otherwise do. Thankfully, my
spouse does not do this
because he is a Christian and he desires to please God.
If your spouse does not
want to talk about where he is going and where
he can be found in case
of emergency, then, you have something to worry about. Anytime a
spouse begins to hide his/her wherabouts and
activities there is reason
to be suspect. Openness and honesty are
highlights of a healthy
relationship and the foundation of trust
necessary for any growing
marriage.
You can come up with some
suggestions
about activities you can do
together without actually
being together, also. Such as working out
at a health club or going
to the library to read. Or go to a museum
and spend part of the time
together and part of it viewing different
exhibits you personally
enjoy, then, meet or coffee or lunch. Or go to a shopping mall
and shop in different stores meeting later on.
Maybe you need to build
some friendships together as well. Getting together with other
couples is a very enjoyable and healthy thing to do.
Explore
with your husband what makes him feel like he needs time alone.
Let him tell you what might be bothering him about your relationship.
He may be feeling trapped for some reason. Evaluate the last 3-6
months. What happens when he is off work? Do the two of you
constantly
do everything together? When he is engaged in different activities are
they always responsibilities around the house or only things which you
like to do? Does he ever have time for his own personal hobbies or
to go fishing and be outdoors?
You may have different personalities
also. If he is an introvert he will
need more time alone and
when you are in the house together he may feel that he doesn't have time
to concentrate on his interests. So it might be wise to let him have
his space at home too, so he can read, or do computer work, etc.
I hope this is helpful for
you. If you have a good relationship with
your husband then I don't
think you have to worry about anything.
Actually, worrying never
accomplishes anything good anyway. Read the articles on anxiety
and faith to help you
trust God more for your relationship with your husband.
If your spouse is not a
drinker or a gambler, etc., then be grateful.
Build your own self-esteem
so that you are not overly dependent on your husband's attention.
Read The
Search for Significance by Robert McGee found our resources
page.
Explore with someone...
a confidante, mentor or counselor what has happened in the past to cause
you to be so jealous and feel so insecure. God
bless you! May I have your permission to reprint your question anonymously?
Thank you! Lynette Hoy, NCC, LCPC |