Dion, from Okalahoma (submitted March, 2004)

Name: Dion
Home state or country: OK

    My wife and stepsons moved to Oklahoma last June from Tennessee.  She has left all her friends behind so she can stay home with our twins.  Things have been continuing to decline since July.  I have started counseling and I am working to improve myself.  I do not know what to do. Our communication is non-cooperative.  We seem to be always on guard and ready to strike back with anger or hurtful words.  I have tried many times to let her know that some of my statements she is misinterpreting.  I have asked several times for her to go to individual and marriage counseling.  I will not give up soon, but it is always on my mind and very hard to keep my defenses down and use all my energy on possitive thought.