Happiness Seeker
Charlotte: Mr. David, how are you doing? I have a problem. I don’t know if it’s an actual problem or it’s just my own insecurities stemming from fear. I think my husband doesn’t want to be married anymore. He hasn’t specifically told me that but I feel like he’s checking out slowly on us.
David Bondze-Mbir (DBM): Have you talked to him about your observation?
Charlotte: Yes. He thinks I’m worrying over nothing
DBM: Are you?
Charlotte: No. My husband is the type to say what you want to hear to make you happy. He’s not the kind to be upfront with the truth.
DBM: What made you want to marry a man who is not upfront with the truth?
Charlotte: Love
DBM: Ask him if he is happily married to you
Charlotte: Direct like that?
DBM: Would you not want to know?
Charlotte: I want to know but what if he says no? What happens to me?
DBM: If someone tells me they do not love me anymore, I will respect my own feelings and do everything possible to change the status quo.
Charlotte: He does not have time to spend with me and the children. He compensates the children by buying them things or taking them out once in a while.
DBM: Is he a workaholic?
Charlotte: His job isn’t that demanding
DBM: Is that a guesstimate or he said so himself?
Charlotte: He told me. That is why I find it a bit baffling. He has time for friends. He has time to have fun. He has time to travel. He has time for social gatherings. He has time to be on his phone, 24/7. If I am lucky to be invited to a public function alongside him, there would be no display of affection between us, but you will see him excited talking to the wives and girlfriends of other people.
DBM: So, at such functions, you can also talk to the husbands and boyfriends of other people. You don’t need your husband’s approval or permission to do that.
Charlotte: I don’t subscribe to tit for tat.
DBM: It’s not tit for tat. You need to take control of what interests you too. Your husband is probably engaging in conversations about politics, football, money, governance, work etc. with people. Find people who speak your same language and connect with them. You don’t have to have your husband at all cost to be doing things with you. It’s an indirect form of control. It pushes men away
Charlotte: What if I want him to be discussing those topics with me instead at home? What if I want to tag along when he’s traveling with someone to go on one of his exploration trips?
DBM: You want my opinion?
Charlotte: Of course,
DBM: Do not beg anyone to spend time with you, not even a husband. If you want to travel to sight-see, plan the trip and go anyways, with or without him. You know what you want. You know what you need. What is stopping you from telling your husband what you intend doing and doing it anyways?
Charlotte: I fear pushing him more away if I’m to start acting that way
DBM: I don’t know how you want to live the rest of your life but you need to adjust your priorities accordingly and become your own happiness seeker.
Charlotte: If he’s seeking his happiness and I am seeking mine, who will take care of the children?
DBM: Alternate your weekends. If he is going out this weekend, stay at home with the kids. Next weekend, you can go out and live your best life while he remains home with the kids. That is the fairest thing to do, in my opinion.
Charlotte: Dave, sometimes we need our husbands.
DBM: You have your husband
Charlotte: Yeah, but I need him to be a part of what we do as a family.
DBM: You need him because…?
Charlotte: There is no one else I would want by side.
DBM: Have you told him that?
Charlotte: In other words, yes.
DBM: No, I mean in those exact words
Charlotte: No.
DBM: Is he patient with you?
Charlotte: Sometimes
DBM: Does he listen to you?
Charlotte: Sometimes
DBM: Does he understand you?
Charlotte: Sometimes
DBM: Does he let you cry?
Charlotte: I feel like sometimes he just doesn’t care if I cry
DBM: Has he been your constant support and encouragement?
Charlotte: Not really
DBM: Is he leading your family?
Charlotte: I don’t know
DBM: Does he provide for the family?
Charlotte: He’s doing the best he can
DBM: Does he protect your family?
Charlotte: I don’t know how to answer that. He’s generally not home. My son was telling me the other day that his father is hardly home to spend time with them.
DBM: Does he respect you?
Charlotte: I don’t know
DBM: Does he pray for you?
Charlotte: No
DBM: Is he honest with you?
Charlotte: Not really
DBM: Does he make you laugh?
Charlotte: Why all these questions?
DBM: A ‘yes’ to my questions should have been the only reason why you need your husband. Do not let your world close in on you because of marriage and children in the mix. There are some men who, the more you chase for their attention, the more they run from you. If you feel your husband is checking out, let him; while you work on differentiating yourself as an individual in your own right, while being connected to the marriage as a whole.
Charlotte: Hmmm
DBM: Marriage and family life is challenging, don’t get me wrong. I am figuring my own out the best way I know how. But truth is, no matter what you do or whatever your approach is, marriage and family life can be challenging.
Charlotte: Dave, thank you.
Image Credit: Tima Miroshnichenko




