Carolyn Hax: Feeling trapped, unhappy in marriage

Dear Carolyn: I have been unhappy in my marriage for a long time. So long, in fact, that it started long before it became a marriage. I always had an excuse for putting off ending the relationship. Eight years, two children and a major home renovation later, we are still married.

We recently renovated our home and now live in our dream home, in which he put a lot of his own blood, sweat and tears.

We have done some counseling; however, I feel I am at a point where I am not interested in fixing the marriage and trying to stay together. I know I don’t want to be married to him anymore but, logistically, I don’t know how I would act on this.

I worry about the effect on our kids – although I can’t imagine the constant tension and almost daily bitter, nasty arguments in front of them are having any positive impact. How do people do this? The logistics of going through a divorce seem like enough to make one stay in a miserable marriage. – Trapped

So many years of so many decisions undermining your own well-being – and of bringing others aboard in the process. I would want to get to the bottom of that before I made any more decisions, especially as big and consequential a decision as dissolving a family.

You say “we” have tried counseling, but you don’t say you have gone, solo. Please do, to figure out what drove you to keep postponing tough consequences and to build a life on excuse after excuse.

At some point you might still need to find a lawyer, a better job and a new home, but, first things first: Find you.

I also urge you to find, in the meantime, a way to stop the “bitter, nasty arguments,” especially in front of the kids. You may indeed be finished with your marriage, but your kids are just starting to learn from you how to handle emotions, how to solve problems, how to treat others, how to trust.

That might just seem like one more thing to worry about, but I’d argue that in such rough waters as yours, it serves as a basic, steady course.