DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been together 20 years, married for 12. We have weathered ex-spouses, step-parenting, nine military deployments between us, serious health issues and everyday normal life. My husband is an infinitely better person than I am, and I have always tried to care for him.
We are in our early 40s and recently retired. This year, our children will be out of the house, and we have bought a beautiful home in a dream location for the two of us to start our next adventure together. I love my husband, but over the last few years, almost everything he says makes me extremely angry or annoyed.
I have never felt like this before in our relationship, and I don’t know why this is happening now. No one else makes me feel this way. I don’t know where to start on addressing the problem.
I have told my husband a little bit, and he says he feels like I no longer love him or need him. But, Abby, I do everything for him. I manage all our bills and finances.
I cook three meals a day. I clean the house, the yard and the cars. I do everything he asks for if he needs help or assistance.
I try to always be there if he needs to talk or vent. I stay in shape and available for him. I don’t know what else to do to make him feel loved and to make my anger go away.
Please help. -- MYSTIFIED IN NORTH CAROLINA DEAR MYSTIFIED: I’m not sure your husband is “an infinitely better person” than you are. I wish you had mentioned one thing that he does to make YOU feel loved an.
