"His Business Crashed -- And So Did Our Marriage"

His Turn, continued

"If I have one regret, it's that I never went to college; with my dad working three jobs, they couldn't afford to send me. At 12, I washed dishes in restaurants after school and on holidays; at 15, I was working on the food preparation line. I learned recipes as I went along and showed how dedicated I could be. Eventually, I became head chef in the dining room of a brokerage firm, and one of the firm's top clients suggested I start a business with him. 

"Maybe our marriage wouldn't be so shaky if Carrie and I hadn't become parents just as the business went bad. If we'd had any idea it would take five years to get pregnant, we would have started sooner.

"I've always tried to show Carrie how much I cared about her. When the boys were born, I was crazed with worry about the bankruptcy, rushing back and forth from our home office to the hospital. And now I'm trying to be a good husband and dad. What else can I do to prove that I love my wife?

"In the beginning, Carrie and I were really good together: We both liked our jobs, enjoyed the same activities. We could always talk to each other. I wish we could get back to the way we were before everything fell apart."