Take the long view to save your marriage

DEAR AMY: My wife and I were friends for several years and then dated and lived together before getting married. We had trouble getting pregnant and suffered a few miscarriages. We finally had a baby last summer and soon found out he had a heart problem and needed surgery (at 2 weeks old). Our lives were shattered at the time, but his health recovered. After this my wife's attention was drawn toward our son, and I found pleasure hanging out with our friends. Our marriage became pretty robotic and loveless. We separated last winter. We reconciled one time to see if our loving feelings had returned. I realized how much I missed and loved her. She said she loved me but was not in love with me. This is hard to hear, and it's even harder not seeing my child every day. We have a separation agreement. Our marital house is sold. We are amicable and talk often, but I can't get over the hump of needing her back. How do I let go? I don't know what to do, and nothing fills this giant void. She has told me she has been on a few dates, and so have I -- but nothing is working. Should I spill my feelings to her?

--CO

DEAR CO: You and your wife gave up on your marriage very quickly. Your baby was only a few months old when you two chose to separate.

Couples who have been together for a long time say the key to staying together is to work as a team toward the greater good, tolerating some tough (even tragic) times to grow together and work toward a mature kind of union.

Everything you report (pulling away, etc. after the trauma of your son's illness) seems a natural reaction to an incredibly challenging time. This is survivable, but you can't repair a relationship when you're on the fast track to dissolution.

You take the long view. You do not fill a giant void with dates. You fill the void with self-actualization. Be honest with your wife. Ask her to join you in counseling. If she won't go, attend on your own.