It is an unhappy phenomenon. A once loving husband turns cold and inaccessible. His attitude, behavior and choices-from self-focus and new female "friendships" to confusion and mixed messages, and even infidelity-create a divide between him and his wife, making her feel "shut out" of his life and locked out of her own marriage. In such instances, it is too easy and too common for a woman to get caught up in her husband's passing midlife episode, one that can end up costing
both
of them the happy security of their marriage in their later years.
Enter Debra Macleod's
The Shut-Out Wife,
a succinct book based on one of her popular online Marriage SOS programs. Drawing on her background as a marital mediator, relationship and intimacy author, "Fair, but Aware" approach, and twenty years' experience working with couples, Debra Macleod, B.A., J.D. offers the shut-out wife a plainspoken, powerful guide to help her master that balancing act-supporting her husband and winning back his affection without losing herself in the process.*
*But take note
: Part One of this book encourages the reader to look at her own behavior and how she can mitigate her husband's midlife crisis. It does this for a strategic reason-to ensure that she can confidently employ the strategies offered in parts two and three, where the author proceeds to such challenging topics as how to handle a husband's self-focus, new obsessions and waning commitment to the marriage.
The Shut-Out Wife
is therefore best suited for readers who are willing to consider its diverse content
in its entirety.
The goal is to make the marriage happier and more stable for years to come. That will take a holistic view of the author's guidance plus a willingness to consider all strategies and work through the practical questions presented.