Denial: First Comes Addiction

Mark ran a website design business from home. His wife Janine was a fairly successful horticulturist specializing in several exotic flower species and selling them to high class florist shops and also did consulting for a successful interior decorating firm.

Mark was nothing special to look at, though not very athletic he was lean. Janine had a great figure and was often described as stunning. She took pride in how she presented herself both professionally and socially and was frequently brought in as a design and decorating consultant for high-class clients. As a result of her decorating and floral work she frequently received invitations to social events in the area and was generally well thought of in the community.

Recently Mark had gotten a series of projects for large sites on a short deadline and had been working all hours of the day paying little attention to Janine or anything else for that matter.

Janine thought, since she had a little extra free time, because it was winter, perhaps if she gave him some extra attention she may get some in return and so she spent a week treating him as near royalty.

Throughout the week, she had a big breakfast ready for him when he awoke, brought him drinks and snacks throughout the day, and even gave him back massages every night as he went to sleep. And though she got one or two thanks in the whole week nothing changed.

The next week while she was having lunch with her friend Kathleen, she mentioned her recent troubles with Mark, how he was ungrateful and inattentive.

Kathleen said, "I had the same problem, but with a little discipline, you can change any man. In fact, I was able to overcome my marital issues once I started making enough money that I could support us on my own . Through a bit of creative discipline I forced him to be attentive to my needs and begin taking care of the house as well."

Taking a breath, Kathleen contemplated whether or not to share how things had truly changed in her marriage. Revealing the changes in her marriage was not something she did lightly, since sometimes the adverse reactions had cost her a friend or two.