[rbarton]

HardDrive, you are absolutely right, and this is something I've tried to discuss with my wife. She has been with our daughter 24 hours a day since she was born. She was trying to start a small business in the latter part of last year, with our daughter on her hip the whole time. We have NEVER gone out by ourselves without our daughter because my wife doesn't trust anyone to watch her. I think this has played a big part in what's going on, but all of my wife's unhappiness with her life (feeling trapped and out of control of her situation) is being directed at me.

Yes, I do watch our daughter while my wife goes out, but I only started doing this a few months ago. Mostly because my wife wasn't willing to part with her for any length of time prior to that.

I really believe that the anger at me is in part a defense mechanism that makes it easier for her to leave. She has been unhappy with her life and believes that she has to throw everything out and start over. She has bought a new car, is fixing up her new place in preparation for the move, looking for a teaching job, etc. etc.

I hear you guys about giving her her space, and I have gotten a lot better about that than I was at first. She is truly the only woman I've ever loved, and this situation has made me realize just how important my family is to me. This is just so damned hard.