Communication

There used to be conversation. Discussion. A decision needed to be made and they sat down and discussed their options like two mature adults. Sometimes one would compromise, sometimes the other. Somehow they always found their way to the middle ground where they could both accept the resolution to the problem.

No more. What used to be quiet conversation in the bedroom or around the kitchen table had regressed into territorial battles. Where had it gone wrong? Why had communication faded into the woodwork? Could they ever regain that early gift they had of mature teamwork? Or were they doomed to one of "those" marriages where they stayed together out of comfort and not passion. Where the children were the only thing left that they held in common.

He for one was not sure. In the quieter moments, late at night he would often find himself pacing the downstairs searching for a solution to their stalemate. If he was completely honest he could even pinpoint the origin of the impasse. It was his fault, because of his irrational obsession that required him to make the entire planet happy regardless of the cost to himself. As their marriage aged he found himself compromising more and more to keep the peace. He would agree rather than fight in front of the children. At first the compromises were over little things. What color to paint a wall, how to arrange the living room furniture.

The consequences of those compromises developed over time. His wife began to understand that if she started an argument she would usually get her way. In the beginning she was careful to pick and choose the times that she would break out her secret weapon. After awhile though she through caution to the wind and began to pick fights to have everything her way. She did not see it as manipulation. She saw nothing wrong. If her husband wanted to keep the peace by sacrificing his desires who was she to stop him.

For him the problem became apparent when the children reached school age. The disagreements intensified as came to the realization that their ideas concerning education were as different as night and day. He understood that while the education system was bruised and battered with parent participation it still worked. She on the other hand wand to toss out the baby with the bathwater and home school the children. He had no problem with home schooling if the parents had the ability to create an environment that stimulated the child's ability to learn. The problem was that he worked full time and he knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that his wife did not have wherewithal to maintain the proper classroom. The issue appeared to be black and white someone would have to give in.

So it had finally happened a line had been drawn in the sand and all that was left was to see who would blink first. She was adamant about home schooling he was adamant about his children receiving a proper education. This is the straw that would break the camels back. He could give in and forever surrender his ability to voice his opinion or he could make a stand. Praying all the while that it would not be his last.