DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have been married 13 years and have two young sons. She's a free spirit. She likes to independently make a lot of decisions that affect us both. This has led to arguments about what should or should not be decided on together.
We have had years of counseling with multiple professionals. Frankly, I feel she ignores my opinions and concerns if I don't agree with her position on an issue. She will commit to a compromise, then turn around and do what she wants anyway.
Recently, she brought up having permanent eyebrow makeup done on an international trip she was taking without me. I asked her to wait until she returned so we could discuss it further before she jumped into it. Despite promising not to, she did it anyway, and I think it looks awful.
I'm left feeling my trust in her has been further damaged and I have a reminder of it staring me in the face on a daily basis. How can I trust her in the future? How can I get past looking at her ugly choice every day? -- DISGUSTED IN ARIZONA
DEAR DISGUSTED: If "years of counseling" haven't worked for the two of you, I think it's fair to conclude that you and your wife have a troubled marriage. While some might say that it's your wife's face and what she puts on it is her business, if a daily reminder of her broken promise to you is a deal-breaker, it may be time to consider whether you can forgive her or if it would be in everyone's best interests to go your separate ways. In marriage there is supposed to be compromise. If you are staying because of your sons, take into consideration that because your relationship with your wife is dysfunctional, the tension your boys are exposed to on a daily basis is not healthy.