Dear Quarterlife Magazine:
My mother passed away last year and my father has had a lot of trouble dealing with her death; it was very sudden. It may have been out of guilt for leaving him alone, but I decided that he should move in with my family. I am almost 30, have an established income and three young children. It was perfect in the beginning, my kids were overjoyed to have their “pawpaw” around more often and he was a great help out around the house.
However, after a while, I noticed his presence has been causing a rift between me and my husband.
I am not particularly sure why – he never wants to approach the subject and has been spending more time away from the house and away from me.
I have tried on several occasions to go out with him in the evenings, but that’s when my children are getting to bed and we have our routine that is important to them.
Basically, what I am asking is, how can I get my husband to communicate his disgruntled view? If this isn’t possible, then is there a way that I can change the situation I’m in? I don’t want to get a divorce over my father.
– G. Fallham
A Division Over Dad