Why do you allow him to talk critically and barely say anything nice to you? You can voice how that’s not acceptable and you won’t take it. Many would have spoken up at the first sign of that kind of treatment. He either would have began to speak more kindly or who knows? Would he hit you?

My husband influenced my clothes by buying me clothes he liked. They weren’t my style. Heck, they looked like clothes his mother wore. But I wore them and let him mould me. He wasn’t mean about it. He also made little comments that affected me, but not in a mean way. For example, he’d mak up a little song about my spending too much money. It was a joke, but it really wasn’t. So, I didn’t spend much money. At least he was nice and not nasty, but still, he did affect me in style and behavior. I didn’t mind.

I wouldn’t stand for verbal abuse about everything, though. I’d open a mouth and be done with that relationship in a heartbeat.