This is a great read and why I value communication above all else in my marriage. This also made me feel very appreciative for what I do have (I can be very persnickety and my husband always treats what I care about as important BECAUSE I care about it). I actually wish he would tell me more often, "You're really overreacting and I don't think we should care about this, because..."

If you ever told your ex-wife what I think my husband should tell me, I hope she would have tried to listen and hear you. You cared about not worrying about dinner as much as she cared about worrying about. You have to find a balance so you were both getting the things you cared about.

Anyway, thank you for making me recognize that listening is not easy to do and that I should focus on the wonderful things in my life more often.