I think there are a few problems we continue to stub our toes on.
I feel resentment that as the patient in the recovery process and my ww was the physician, I would have died one thousand deaths due to the poor care that I was given.
When examples of poor care crop into our relationship, we can go off the tracks.
Example: Last August my father in laws birthday was coming up. We had just finished a long discussion about how their house was a big trigger for me and how I needed to stay away from the house for a while. She agreed. Less than a week later she gets a call that her dads birthday party will be at their house.
She told me about the party without a single comment or thought about my trigger. When I mentioned it there was a big emotional reaction, but it is my father...
I had to remind her, hay maybe we can suggest that we have the party at our house, a restaurant, or local park... She reluctantly agrees to suggest that, but her parents don't support it and now I am made to feel bad that I am taking care of myself and putting my needs before hers.
I can list 100 examples starting from my request for her to leave her job to a multiple month struggle to donate the golf clubs that were used in a charity golf outing, that was at the center of the infidelity.
Does that make sense? I would list them under independent behavior, oppositional disposition (Dr. Harley's comment on the radio show), and lack of extra ordinary care & goodwill.
Ok, this is some good working material, so let me see if I can help you learn and apply the principals here.
While it is true that as
betrayed husbands, we are the
patient in the recovery process, we are
outpatients.
Husbands are the stewards of the marriage because we are naturally better equipped to endure stress and anguish. And as such, it is easier for us to drive the marriage in a healthy direction, even when under duress.
Your wife, in this scenario, is more like a Primary Care Physician (PCP), than a trauma surgeon.
Your job is to follow your plan of care for a healthy lifestyle;
Get 25+ hours each week of UA time to build Romantic Love, and avoid Love Busters.
You report problems to your PCP;
It bothers me when you....
I love it when you...
Your PCP provides assessment; how are you meeting her needs? How can you better meet them? What Love Busters can you elimintate.
You provide your PCP with feedback: how is she meeting your needs? How can she better meet them? What Love Busters can she eliminate?
You then follow the PCPs recommendations, and follow up regularly (use the Emotional Needs and Love Busters questionnaires available here on the website).
/analogy
Now, for your scenario - the first thing I have to ask, is was your wife's affair exposed, and was it exposed to your in-laws?
You see, if the affair was exposed to your in-laws, then they would know why it is that you are going to be declining invitations to their home; because it exacts an emotional toll on you that is toxic to your marriage.
Then, you tell your wife "I am not enthusiastic about going to the in-law's house, can we discuss some alternatives?"
If you cannot find an alternative that you are both enthusiastic about, neither one of you should go.
If she goes without your enthusiastic agreement?
Well, you tell her it bothers you, continue the healthy marriage habits... and if she continually disregards your feelings, then over time there will be no marriage. Over time those habits will erode the love in your marriage enough that you may divorce her.
Notice; I didn't suggest you turn to Love Busters or withdrawal. I didn't suggest a lambasting, punishment, or retaliation.
You simply tell her that it bothers/hurts you when she disregards your feelings, and continue driving the marriage towards healthy habits.
You can't force or coerce your wife into a fulfilling, romantic marriage.
But, you, as a husband, can lead the way. And if she absolutely refuses to follow... one day she may find herself without a husband.
Or, she can follow the lead of a patient, loving husband, and you may be surprised to discover a different woman than you've known all this time.
It's up to you to drive.