For years, Tom told me his family didn’t want in-laws on their vacations. When I pushed about the kids, he said he didn’t want to babysit. This year, I couldn’t ignore it anymore and called his mom directly. She told me the family had stopped vacationing together years ago, and Tom hadn’t been going on those trips.
That evening, I confronted him. Tom admitted he’d been going to a cabin alone for years, avoiding conflict at home. He explained it was his way of coping with the pressure and guilt, but he had been running from our problems.
Over time, we worked through it—Tom saw a therapist, and I became more open with my feelings. We took our first family vacation in years, not extravagant but meaningful.
This experience taught me that honesty, trust, and vulnerability are essential for healing. Tom and I are stronger because we chose to face our issues together. If you’ve been avoiding tough conversations, I encourage you to open up—it can be the key to moving forward.