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Ask Amy: Marriage at midlife is one long slog

Dear Amy: I’m a 66-year-old man who has been married for 19 years.

We started out fairly well, but over the years, more and more arguments emerged.

Now we have three young kids and have devolved into the Odd Couple. She is a downright slob (really bad, even by her own admission), and I’m more of a normal clean-type.

I can’t keep cleaning the house all by myself, and it gets so disgusting that I’m embarrassed by it.

We do have some great times, but I just feel like I love her as a friend and can’t stand living with her.

I’m somewhat into staying fit, and I work out to maintain a good look and heart health. She does not. She can’t keep up with me even on a short hike. I fear that she’ll die way before me or eventually become too heavy for me to find attractive.

The other day our oldest still at home — a 16-year-old girl — told the story of our meeting and marriage at an extended-family dinner. She concluded with: “ ... then they found out they didn’t like each other. The End.”

I know that if I announce divorce it would be devastating to her. She still loves me very much.

I feel that if I stay I won’t be happy, and it’s not healthy for the kids to hear us arguing, but I also feel that a “broken” home could be equally devastating.

Stay or Go?

Stay or Go: Staying in — or leaving — a marriage is not really a binary choice, certainly when you have young children.

You say that you can’t keep cleaning the house all by yourself. Why not? It sounds as if you are probably much better at it than your wife is. You care more about this than she does.

You have three children under the age of 7. If she agrees to handle the majority of the daily child care and manages to get meals on the table, can you be in charge of cleaning? Can you hire someone to clean for a few hours a week, to lighten the load for everyone? If you can financially afford to leave your marriage, then you can also afford to pay for some of the help you need right now.

Some of what you two are dealing with is what most couples in the shank of their marriage and parenting have to cope with — that feeling that life is passing by in a blur, while spouses become detached from the relationship, and, in a way, from their own lives.

Yes, arguing in front of the children is not good for your household, but you two can learn how to communicate differently.

Therapy is ideal for getting unstuck from entrenched thought patterns. You should commit to trying to change things at home before you decide to simply pack it in.

Dear Amy: I have been divorced for nine years, and my ex-wife has been married for the past eight years. We have a 15-year-old daughter and 13-year-old triplets.

I have never missed a visitation, activity or doctors’ visit.

My oldest and I had an argument, and she decided she did not want to see me.

Two of the triplets then decided they did not want to visit, either.

My third girl comes all of the time. I am now fighting legally to get them to adhere to visitation.

Their mother does not want me in the picture. She is always planning things to do when it is my time with the girls. They have never missed an activity or party when they are with me. Some people say to just let them go. I love them and think I am a good influence on them. I also do not want them to say, “Why did you give up on us?”

Lost Daddy

Lost Daddy: One way that angry exes have of alienating children from a parent is to constantly interfere by planning things during the parent’s visitation. It is unconscionable, destructive and ultimately hurts the children.

I agree that you should continue to fight for access to your children.

Dear Amy: Lately you’ve been presented with many dilemmas where people wonder if they should disclose various “family secrets.” Thank you for always urging people to find a way to tell the truth. My family is full of secrecy and not-quite-buried incidents and “scandal.” It is toxic.

Sad With Secrets

Sad With Secrets: Secrets seem to grow more powerful over time. Disclosure saps this power.