I’m really at a crossroads and need a little guidance/advice. My husband and I have been married for 10 years, together for 16 and have two children. I grew up in an extremely stable household, I never saw my parents argue, he did not.
I was always taught to take information from people who love you with an “everything with good intent” approach; meaning, people mean well and sometimes may not know how to portray what they’re feeling.
My husband and I over the years have fought quite a bit. He was known in his family to be very sensitive and defensive and doesn’t take ANY criticism or jokes well, so looking back, even from our first date I tread on eggshells. Fast forward to now, I’m having almost a physiological reaction to him. Over years where resentment has built, I just get extremely irritated by everything he says or does and so do our children. He looks at anything I say and finds fault in it and starts an argument. Some of his family members labeled him as bipolar/narcissistic. I’ve reached a point where I don’t feel safe (not abuse, just emotionally) to be fully myself and notice that happening with my children as they’re getting older. Anything he says or does, I cringe. I try to smile through this but I just can’t anymore. Has anyone else felt this way and been able to surpass it? I’m truly thinking of divorce but I’ve been a stay at home mom since having our first, so I’m just petrified.