US EditionDear Annie: Married life has lost its luster for me
A wife in a 24-year marriage feels lonely after empty nesting and seeks advice on rebuilding intimacy and emotional connection when her husband remains distant.
- In a Dear Annie letter, a married reader says she feels embarrassed and dreads parts of her life, with a son across the country and a daughter dropping by for Sunday dinner, while feeling lonely despite a decent husband.
- Empty-Nesting has exposed what busyness used to cover, turning `we're fine` into a quiet sort of heartbreak, while daily logistics about groceries and family visits reduce real connection.
- Most nights her husband falls asleep on the couch with the TV on and his phone in hand, she says this pattern leaves her feeling invisible despite her efforts to connect.
- Pick a calm, ordinary moment and speak plainly, naming one planned date a week or phones away at dinner, and if needed, consider a couples counselor for tools and neutral space.
- If he deflects, gently say `I'm not teasing` and ask `Are you willing to work on this with me?`, then consider next steps if he still doesn’t meet her halfway, the wife says.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Dear Annie: My marriage feels distant despite appearances
Dear Annie: I’m writing because I feel embarrassed even admitting this, but I’m starting to dread parts of my own life that I worked hard to build. I’m 52, married for 24 years, and we have two grown kids who are mostly launched. Our son is across the country and our daughter lives close enough to drop by for Sunday dinner. I used to look forward to this “quieter season,” but instead I feel like the silence in our house is highlighting how far a…
Dear Annie: I feel invisible in my own marriage after 24 years together
Dear Annie: I’m writing because I feel embarrassed even admitting this, but I’m starting to dread parts of my own life that I worked hard to build. I’m 52, married for 24 years, and we have two grown kids who are mostly launched. Our son is across the country and our daughter lives close enough to drop by for Sunday dinner. I used to look forward to this “quieter season,” but instead I feel like the silence in our house is highlighting how far a…
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