She’s an academic, and we’ve lived a transient lifestyle to accommodate her career.
asserted
we → ’ → career
She had a greater professional vision than I ever did, so I opted to stay at home and raise the children.
asserted
I → have → children
I became Mr. Mom at great social cost.
asserted
I → become → cost
It was hard to make friends, and many in my social circles (or what was left of my social circles) made backhanded remarks, usually behind my back.
asserted
what → make → back
I don’t regret my choice.
asserted
I → regret → choice
We have three fantastic children.
asserted
We → have → children
All of them earn straight A’s and are kind, loving, respectful people.
asserted
All → earn → ’s
Had we reversed roles, we’d be poorer and have grumpier, less emotionally intelligent children.
asserted
we → reverse → children
A few years ago, I decided to go back to school and earn my master’s degree, and I now teach as an adjunct at a local college.
asserted
I → decide → college
The kids are older, and I have more free time, but I’m still the primary caretaker.
asserted
I → have → time
I wanted a job that would give me enough room to look after our older kids while making some side money.
asserted
that → want → money
The plan worked out smoothly until we hit financial difficulties.
asserted
we → work → difficulties
My wife now says I need to change jobs.
asserted
I → say → jobs
She wants me to get out of academia because we need the money.
asserted
we → want → money
She says I need to “grow up and get a real job.”
asserted
I → say → job
This feels like an assault.
asserted
This → feel → assault
I value my summers because I can continue to look after my kids, who still need care.
asserted
who → value → care
I feel like had I been a woman, and had she been a man, her attitude would be different.
asserted
attitude → feel → ?
Early in our marriage, we agreed she’d be the primary breadwinner.
asserted
she → agree → marriage
I love my job and my lifestyle, but she’s making me feel like a mooch.
asserted
me → love → mooch
I believe I have lived up to my end of the bargain.
asserted
I → believe → bargain
You are not “wrong,” in that you have kept up your end of the bargain, but your wife may not be wrong either, except in being disrespectful.
uncertain
wife → keep → bargain
In order to maintain your current lifestyle, it may be necessary to bring in more money than you’ve been earning.
uncertain
you → maintain → money
It’s no one’s fault that circumstances have changed since the original bargain was struck, but if you don’t adapt, you’ll create hardship for the whole family.
asserted
you → ’ → family
Sometimes when I am at a store waiting to check out, a person will move up very close to me.
asserted
person → wait → me
It isn’t because they don’t have plenty of room.
asserted
they → have → room
It makes me uncomfortable.
asserted
me → make → ?
What is an appropriate thing to say to someone who crowds you during your transaction?
asserted
who → say → transaction
Many people feel the same as you do about being crowded at a cash register, because they don’t want anyone peering over their shoulder as they make their payment.
asserted
they → feel → payment
All you have to do is turn to the person and say, “Would you mind stepping back?
asserted
you → have → person
You’re making me nervous.”
asserted
me → make → ?
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren.
asserted
Abby → write → Buren
For nearly four decades, Jeanne Phillips penned this column, which was founded in 1956 by her mother, Pauline Phillips.
asserted
which → pen → mother
The Aporia
