Do you expect that your spouse touch base with you if they are gone for a long period of time?

For instance, yesterday was his off day. He called me at like 4:15 p.m. to tell me he was going to try and find happy hour somewhere (we had went to lunch earlier and got into an argument). It was about 10 minutes after 11 p.m. and I had not seen him nor heard from him. I finally got up the nerve to call him and at that point I was in tears. I asked him where he was and he said he had just left the bar at a local restaurant. Do you think it's right for someone to be gone for that amount of time and not call their spouse just to say hey, I'll be home in a bit? I mean that was 7 hours later.

No, this is not the first time that he has done this. He does it often actually. About a month ago he went to watch the fight at his friends house. They live 45 minutes away (and they are all single). He left home about about 7 p.m. I didn't hear from him until after 2 a.m. and that was because I called. He didn't even answer on the first ring. I called right back and he answered ...

2007-06-16T07:52:01Z

He was with his friends and he sounded like he had been drinking (as usual). No, he’s not an alcoholic but when he does go out he drinks quite a few drinks. I was furious and he was trying to apologize to me. But we had already talked about this a week prior. I was in tears and he was telling me not to cry with his friends in the car listening. It was like he was trying to make a fool out of me in front of them. My husband’s opinion on the whole issue is that he is a grown man and he doesn’t have to get my permission to do anything. He thinks that as long as he’s not cheating (which he has technically cheated twice) and doing things he shouldn’t be doing then there shouldn’t be a problem. He gets very angry when I bring up the issue and he says I am treating him like a boy and he refuses to let that happen. Do you agree? As long as he’s not out doing something wrong then it should be okay to do whatever without touching base with me?

2007-06-16T07:52:19Z

I don’t have any friends here and I don’t do anything but go to work and come home. But he seems to think that I am jealous that he has people to hang out with. He is so wrong. I hang out with my brother on occasion as well as my cousin. I don’t go anywhere often, but when I do, even if it’s to my brother’s house after work I call my husband after a couple of hours just to check in. If I go somewhere with my cousin, 3 or 4 hours may pass but I usually don’t let it exceed that. He tells me, I cheated and I have apologized. What more do you want me to do? I made a mistake but like goes on. Life isn’t going to stop because of what I did. I am not doing anything and I keep telling you that. But to me, I feel like that because HE knows he’s not doing anything I am supposed to feel that way too.

2007-06-16T07:55:43Z

May I add that after yesterday's incident, he came straight in and went to bed. He didn't say anything to me (as usual). It doesn't matter if I am upset and crying or not. Also, this morning he woke up, got out of bed and went to the living room (that's typical as well) without saying a word. I got up and went into the guest bedroom and read my book. About 30 mins. later he came in the room to tell me he is going to the barber shop. I didn't respond and he asked if I heard him and I said yes. Then before he left I ran out and said, why are you telling me where you're going now? I said I had no idea where you were last night. He got upset and said I'll be back and shut the door. That's always. Everytime I try to voice my opinion he cuts me off and leaves the room or leaves period. Yes, I am already in counseling.

Hana2007-06-16T11:45:49Z

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seems like there some unresolved issues here on both sides,crying /getting mad,even worrying will not get you any closer to a resolve ,one of you has to bend,it seems that it will have to be you....let him go about his busy day don't call ,do say that you worry about him driving /drinking and you are fear full that something might happen and you love him too much to not to say something.and let it go ...people will do what ever they do there's nothing you can do ,its how well you deal with the issues,that come from the choices others make .however sometimes enough is enough and you must make a wise decision and deal with the consequences as he also will have to do ,be good to yourself and each other ,make yourself busy ,make him deserts and leave them where he can get to them when he comes in or a snack,start putting a effort into building a better relationship by being a better friend than those buddies hes hanging with ,romance him,,,,,it does take 2 to have a marriage that is comfortable ,sometimes it cant be work out ,at least you will have tried....good luck

Austins Mom2007-06-16T15:06:09Z

Ok you need to turn the tables on him. Go hang out with your cousin or brother or what not--and make it more severe so the point gets across, after all you are a grown women and work for a living too right. Go out, be sketchy and don't come home til morning--AND DON'T CALL HIM!!!!! Then if an arguement ensues, make sure that you bring the points up to him. If he doesn't have to be accountable, neither do you.

Beyond that, you need to rethink this whole situation. Because for whatever reason he doesn't feel that you are an important enough part of his life to include you--even if it is a phone call when he is out. You should be a priority, and no matter what he should be thinking about you. I am glad that you are in counseling, next time you go, ask the counselor why you are staying in a one sided relationship, and how do you fix your self esteem, so that you know that YOU ARE BETTER AND DESERVE MORE THAN THAT!!!!!!! Seriously--look at yourself for who you are, what you put into the relationship and what you are getting back--it certainly sounds one sided. It sounds like you are his steady piece of ***, and he is a self centered dufus!!! Good Luck, take stock in your relationship, and do things for you--that make YOU happy!!!! Since you seem to be the only one paying attention!!!!!!!

FaerieWhings2007-06-16T15:04:50Z

Honestly, it sounds like your possessiveness may be a reason why he doesn't call you. Everyone needs time alone. The only time I called my husband to come home was the night before our wedding and I couldn't fall asleep without him there, I was so frantic about everything going right (no, it wasn't his bachelor party, that was the week before).

But being that he knows that you want some communication he could just send a text to let you know where he is.

You guys have a breakdown of communication. You need to come up with a plan to decide how you want to go about these things.

Why don't you go out when he goes out. That may take your mind off things a bit.

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I take it by the fact that someone thumbed down all the answers that placed even some of the blame on you (which by the way there is some blame on you for continuing a relationship with a man who has cheated on you several times) that you weren't looking for an answer but rather justification for your behavior, which is just as bad as his.

Fix yourself, don't worry about other people.

bamagrits842007-06-16T15:10:59Z

The way I see it is there is a level of respect partners should ave for each other. Your husband should have respected you enough to take a minute and let you know that he was okay and would be home a bit late. I don't think it makes a man look weak to keep his wife informed of his plans; it shows respect. I did't read everything you wrote because, well it was too long, but if you haven't already done so just tell him you get concerned when he's out of contact with you. And don't be afraid to call him even if you have upset with each other. He make be glad to see you caring about his actions and decide to come on home.

Amanda2007-06-16T15:07:45Z

My husband before we got married usually would go out with his friends and I would willingly tell him not to come home.(I hated when he was drunk and would come home) But, he would call or text me through out the night to let me know he was okay. Now we are married and he actually does not go out at all, unless I am with him. We did have a similar situation and I told him i get worried about him(not that he was cheating, but getting into an accident) He respected that and now calls and texts me through out the day if he is not with me. He put it that I am his wife and he should not make me worry about where he is and what he is doing reguarless if we get into a fight or not. I would seriously sit down and talk to him about this. Tell him you understand he is a grown man and you are not looking to have him check in like a teenager but, you would like to know every couple of hours that he is ok. Tell him it has nothing to do with you thinking he is cheating ( even if it is, wording can be everything) Just you don't want to have to worry he got in an accident or something then ask him if it's wrong to worry about him. He can't argue that. Hope I helped. Good Luck

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