Okay, so I (42M) have been married to my wife, L (40F), for over 20 years. We have three kids, M (18M), C (16F), and S (1M). I love my family, but I’ll admit, I have a unique way of doing things, and lately, my wife has been getting on my case about it.
For example, I have a best friend (45M) who I spend a lot of time with. My wife says we act like “idiots” together, but I think she’s just jealous of our bond. We hang out at our usual spot almost every day after work, drinking a few beers, talking about life, and occasionally getting into little misadventures. Nothing serious! One time, yeah, we may have gotten into a situation involving a forklift and a lake, but no one got hurt (much). My wife was furious and said I was a bad influence on the kids.
Speaking of the kids, I try to be a fun dad. I joke around, I don’t take things too seriously, and yeah, sometimes my ideas are a little out there. Like, okay, maybe I tried to build a homemade rollercoaster in the backyard last summer. And maybe it technically wasn’t structurally sound. And maybe it technically led to my oldest son breaking his arm. But hey, what’s childhood without a little adventure? My wife called me reckless and made me sleep in the basement for a week.
Also, I might have a history of getting too involved in things I don’t fully understand. Like, there was a time I got really into politics (don’t ask), and another time I tried to become a famous singer despite zero experience. I even started my own detective agency once. My wife says I waste time chasing ridiculous dreams when I should be focusing on my family, but I argue that I am setting an example—showing my kids to always follow their passions.
Anyway, my wife sat me down last night and told me she’s “exhausted” and that she feels like she’s raising four kids instead of three. She says I never take responsibility for anything, that I embarrass her constantly, and that she sometimes wonders how she’s put up with me for this long. That hurt, not gonna lie. I mean, yeah, I mess up sometimes, but isn’t marriage about accepting each other’s flaws?
So, AITA for just trying to have a little fun in life?