Hi jennifer,
i am going to be giving you a long lecture, so please be patient with what I say. The final decision is yours.
If you really love your husband and want the marriage to work, I think you should do the following (not necessary that you have the same thoughts too):
- steel yourself and your heart, become strong
- do more activities with your hubby together
- maybe take a day off, leave your kids either in the daycare (if they are very small) or leave them with your parents or somebody and just the two of you do something that you guys like, your hobby (hiking, biking, swimming, playing tennis whatever....)
- take counselling for yourself more than for your husband
- take on the role of a counsellor for your hubby and kids
- sometimes when he behaves in a way that you don't want him to, discuss with him. If that's not a good time, see the right time and then discuss.
- always try to place yourself in his shoes and then accordingly react, makes a world of a difference
- be calm and control your anger. This doesn't mean that you are a saint or you become one. Control of anger and emotions is the biggest thing to have. More than anybody else it helps you the most because you get a great peace of mind.
=> I am not rattling on this above point. In the beginning, I was very high on my emotions. It was almost to the extreme ends of the pendulum let it be anger, emotional outburst, happiness, sorrow etc. And now I have controlled my emotions and this has helped me big time.
Keep one thing in mind, the grass on the other side is always green, just as you had mentioned. You know the ins and outs of your hubby now but not of your ex. If the other guy has become an ex, think about it, it has been for some particular reason that he became your ex and not for the heck of it. Also I have seen this very common, if there is a person who you like as a person, but cannot get the person for whatever reason, or even just being a good samaritan, they will always be good to you. But when it is someone who you love, like your hubby, your kids, your parents, brother/sister, you take their love for granted and vice versa too. So as a result when you say something, you just say it without thinking or you say it without having any qualms.
So keeping all this in mind, all I can say, is be calm with him, understand him, understand his moods and make him understand how you feel when he does certain things and when he doesn't do certain things. Believe me most of the men are like kids or even infants when it comes to emotions. And when you talk things out they would understand it. And if talking does not work, imitate their behaviour when you get a chance, they'll get pissed off at it big time and then you can slowly explain the situation.
I am able to rattle along so much, because I have faced similar problems with my hubby. But it was not about me having relationship or even thoughts of anybody. I love my hubby to the core. But there were our certain behavioural issues that we had. It is like north pole and south pole. Like for eg. An extrovert living with an introvert.
So I did all the things that I have mentioned above and believe it or not, (touch wood), my relationship and my marriage is way much better than it was earlier. Everyday the relationship only improves, we are getting to understand each other much better and I feel much more happier.
Ok, enough of my lecture.
This was just my 2 cents, take it for what it is worth.
All the best....