Why Can’t I Forgive My Husband for Dropping Our Senior Dog?

My husband was carrying our 16-year-old dog outside for a walk when the dog flinched and fell out of his arms. Her back legs were paralyzed in the fall, and given her age, the prognosis is not good. My husband feels terrible. But he can also put things out of his mind, so I feel alone in my sorrow. I fluctuate between blaming him and saying mean things (“You gave our dog a death sentence”) and knowing it was an accident (“No one meant for this to happen”). How should I handle my resentment? We are the parents of two children under 3, and we’ve been together for 14 years — so we need to keep working as a team.

WIFE

It’s hard work to maintain a healthy relationship, so I commend you for noting the sour dynamic that has begun to infiltrate yours. (We can’t fix problems until we name them.) Still, nearly every pet owner I know — and parent, too — has a scary story about an accidental dereliction: “The dog’s collar broke away from its leash.” “And then the baby rolled off the sofa.” “I didn’t lock the stroller properly.” You probably have one, too. There is no such thing as perfect caregiving!

Now, you don’t describe your husband as careless, so let’s assume he isn’t. My hunch is that the huge responsibility of two young children and a senior dog has made you (understandably) anxious about things that might go wrong. And your husband’s accident heightened your fears. You may also need more time to process your feelings than he does. Nothing wrong with that!

Discuss this issue with a close friend or a therapist. I would spare your husband any more talk about the “death sentence” he imposed until you understand why you can’t yet forgive him for an accident. And keep working on it. It’s great that you’re focusing on this problem before it becomes a crisis.

Honoring His Late Wife’s Wishes, and His Own

My father’s wife died after more than 40 years of marriage. He is still grieving. My stepmother was cremated, and her wishes were clear: There was a memorial service, and my father is to scatter most of her ashes at a remote destination; her sons (in their 60s) will also receive some ashes. The problem: My father invited my sister and me on this trip, but he doesn’t want to include her sons. He often played peacemaker between them and my stepmother. There was conflict as recently as this winter, and my father wants a peaceful trip. He doesn’t intend to discuss his plans with them because he fears disagreement, though I can’t imagine someone won’t ask about it. (We are all aware of her wishes, but she never said whom she wanted to be there.) I think his plan could create resentment. Thoughts?