Dear Maggie,

Since the birth of our children, I feel like I’ve been lost in the shuffle – an emotion which has grown progressively worse.  I have a wonderful family and an honest, caring wife who is beautiful both inside and out.  However, it seems like I take a distant second to the kids and household activities.

 Specifically, the most disappointing part of this dilemma occurs in the evening.  After a hard day’s work and long commute, I yearn for some quality private time with my wife.  Invariably, she appears more concerned with household chores such as cleaning up the kitchen.  To add insult to injury, after I get home she spends the majority of the time doting on the kids and asking me to “do this” and “do that.”  I view this whole situation with not only sadness, but bewilderment in that I am simply irresistible from a physical standpoint.  At times I’m referred to as being “arrogant” and/or “ignorant” by others.  I don’t understand why such terms are used since I’m simply stating facts.  Honestly, I ask myself what woman wouldn’t just drop everything else for me?  Furthermore, I do plenty of nice gestures around the house including many tasks which would be considered a “woman’s job” by people.  This, I do above and beyond all of the “man’s work.” I lose my cool and fly off the handle fairly often, however  I’ve been improving my self-control lately.