My husband and I have been married for 7 years and we have 2 children. We got married young (21) partly because we had already had a child prior to being married. For the most part, we had got along well and figured things out when we had a quarrel. Now, it seems we can't come to any agreement on anything! I also have bitterness because he talks to his mom about everything and makes decisions with her advice without telling me until after the fact. Whenever I bring something up to discuss or something I have a concern about, he gets angry very quickly and doesn't want to talk. How are we supposed to communicate if he acts this way? I can't express my feelings whatsoever which in return makes me resent him and not want him around. I stay at home and he works 2 jobs so he is rarely here anyways. I'm actually happier when he isn't here because the tension is somewhat gone. When he is here, he is either plugged in to some device(computer, phone, or tv) and would rather do that than spend time with me or the kids. I'm more than happy to discuss different problems or anything that's bothering him but he won't open up to me. It's just so frustrating and I feel so alone. I've debated about going to counseling for myself to learn how to deal with this situation and I've also told my husband we should go but he wouldn't give me an answer. I need to look out for myself and my kids so that's my first priority. This isn't the life I chose for myself and I refuse to live in this poisonous situation much longer. I deserve far better than this and who is he to think that I won't find it?! I've definitely tried my fair share of communicating but it's not working. What am I doing wrong? I pray about it a lot and ask my mom for advice. I would rather talk to him about it but it isn't an option. There is much more to the situation but this is just a few things that I'm having trouble with currently. Any help or advice would be appreciated!

Welcome to Marriage Builders, AV.

Have you read Dr. Harley's Basic Concepts?

http://www.marriagebuilders.com/graphic/mbi3000_intro.html

This article by Dr. Harley might be helpful for you:

When to Call it Quits (Part 1)

I just downloaded HNHN to my kindle so I will start with that. Although, I can read self help books until I'm blue in the face but if I bring things up that need talked about, he doesn't want anything to do with it. Everything is peachy keen to him as long as I don't rock the boat by wanting to talk! It's just a vicious cycle we go through every week. I want to talk, he gets annoyed, we don't talk for a few days. What a life to look forward to!

AV, I would educate yourself about the program and then sell it to him. People buy things when there is a percieved benefit. Read the book and find an aspect of the program that would benefit him. Use that aspect to sell him on the personal benefits.

Again, people buy things when there is a benefit. That is how you sell it.