I’ve been married for about a year, and I’m struggling with how I feel in my relationship. My husband lost his twin brother years ago, and he’s extremely close to his mother. I understand why, and I’ve always tried to be respectful and supportive of that bond.
But over time, I’ve started feeling emotionally sidelined. I don’t feel deeply connected to him the way I expected in a marriage. He rarely shows affection openly, especially around his family, and I often feel like I’m not really “chosen” or prioritized. When we’re alone, things are better, but even then I feel like I’m putting in most of the emotional effort.
I don’t want to compete with his mother or take anything away from that relationship, but I also don’t want to feel invisible or secondary in my own marriage. I’ve started questioning whether this dynamic can actually change or if I’m just not suited for this relationship.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? How did you figure out whether it was something workable or a sign to step back?