So I too am having a difficult time and am trying to improve things so that we can have a better marriage and family life. Where do I begin? Her children are good kids and I do love them but there are rifts between us that are hard to get over. Too often are these guys feeling like I am the bad guy and there mother is the greatest and especially their father. I guess this is a source of frustration. BF lives in South America and hardly ever sees them. He calls and does love them but has made choices that keep them apart. My wife left him due to addiction problems and dad had plenty of opportunity to make the right choice of his family over himself. Well he didn't choose his family obviously but mom wants to protect her kids by not explaining the truth to them. OK fine on one level I can understand but see I am the one who has made the choice he should have. I support these kids, any minimal payments from dad have dried up for well over a year now, I take them to their sports, school events, and get together with friends, and deal with the normal frustrations of raising children. I guess I feel that this is an incredible thing for anyone to do. I have basically put on hold most of my dreams and ambitions for the sake of this family. So with this in mind anytime my wife is critical with me I lose it. I'm not unreasonable, the first couple of comments I can handle but then more come and I start to lose my patience and then at night when we lie next to each other and have no physical contact unless I initiate it I can't take it. I begin feeling like less of a man. I begin to think I am weak and possibly mentally ill. The feeling I get from my wife is that I have a problem and need to deal with it. So although I don't believe this is the full truth I am seeking help.