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You should know someone pretty well by the time you walk down the aisle with them. And, more importantly, you should like them. This is the person you’ve chosen to spend the rest of your life with after all. Unfortunately, many people think they can change someone else once they’ve put a ring on it…
Like one woman who, after a mere 7 months of marriage, decided her husband’s hobbies were immature and unhealthy. Instead of having a grown-up conversation about it and coming to a compromise, she decided to destroy all of his Star Wars figurines – going as far as burning and melting some. The man has shared his side of the story… And all we’ll say is, “May the force be with her.”
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He’s been collecting Star Wars figurines since he was a teenager and still has them as a grown, married man
Hand-painted Star Wars figure held over a cutting mat, highlighting detailed miniature craftsmanship and hobby work.
Many will agree that it’s good to have hobbies. They allow us to meet new people, learn new things, destress, and relax. We might not always understand – or like – our partner’s choice of hobby, but that doesn’t mean we can’t support them.
Dr Andrea Towers Scott is an expert in interpersonal and family communication. She says there are several ways we can do this. One is financially.
“We can budget funds to allow him to buy new gear or take a trip,” suggests Towers Scott. “Financial support is very important because family budgets are tight, especially now. When we devote money to our spouse’s hobby, we are letting them know that their hobby is important to us, too.”
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She adds that you could also consider giving birthday or Christmas gifts that support his hobby. Or why not give the gift of time by carving out space in the family schedule that allows your spouse time to do what they love?
“You don’t have to love your husband’s hobby to show interest in it,” Towers Scott says. “Ask questions! Not sure how to engage in a conversation about the hobby? Remember the 5Ws and an H: who, what, where, why, when, and how. These are a great start to questions about any topic.”
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Stephen J. Betchen, believes that hobbies can become a bone of contention if a couple is unable to tolerate the time and money a partner puts into something. However, he says some people use hobbies as an excuse for conflict when there’s another issue at play.
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“Partners can use differing interests or a failure to negotiate or support them against one another to mask deeper incompatibilities,” he explains. “If a couple is not emotionally or physically attracted to one another, or if one or both have intimacy issues, partners can use hobbies and various interests to distance themselves from one another.”
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What to do if you and your partner can’t see eye-to-eye about hobbies…
Man with glasses and woman with red hair looking at abstract painting, representing video games and Star Wars figures hobbies.
Clinical psychologist, Dr Samantha Rodman Whiten, has seen the scenario many times before: couples arguing and bickering because one can’t stand the other’s hobby or hobbies. She says when she works with couples like this in counseling, her first step is to figure out why the wife is responding poorly to the man’s hobbies.
“Generally, it is either that she is jealous of his prioritization of the hobby because she feels he is always avoiding time with her, or that he is acting more self-centered (including leaving her with the kids constantly) due to the hobby,” Whiten reveals. “And of course, sometimes she is overwhelmed and stressed, and the time he spends engaged in the hobby is terrifying to her because she is too depressed, anxious, or overwhelmed to manage the kids alone during the time he spends away.”
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The expert adds that she’ll try to help the couple by encouraging them to spend more quality time together. She’ll also coach them on creating a life and relationship where the couple unit takes priority over all other aspects.
“This can be as simple as the man understanding that, of course, she feels resentful about weekly golfing if he never puts a weekly date night on the calendar,” Whiten explains. “When he empathizes with her feelings and begins to proactively plan time with her, her resentment about the hobby recedes.”
The clinical psychologist says there are times the man needs to shift his perspective and “see that kids are only young once, and his wife needs his physical presence a lot more with a baby or toddler than she will as the children age.”
According to Whiten, it’s not unusual for hobbies to take a back seat during “the trenches of new parenthood or the transition to multiple kids.” She says it’s actually healthy and normal as is making family time a central priority while children are young.
“Empathy with his wife’s overwhelm is also an integral piece of moving forward,” adds the expert. “If the man understands how difficult his wife finds it to parent the kids alone, he may also bring the kids along to his hobby (e.g., running with a jogging stroller or teaching older kids how to play golf).”
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“Evil”: many people were shocked and felt the woman had underlying issues
Commenter sharing thoughts on a wife's unexpected reasonable behavior despite challenging circumstances.
Man secretly playing video games and buying Star Wars figures at home in a hidden hobby despite wife’s ban.
Man secretly plays video games and buys Star Wars figures after wife bans his hobbies at home.
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Man playing video games while secretly buying Star Wars figures after wife bans his hobbies at home.
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Man playing video games and secretly buying Star Wars figures after wife bans his hobbies at home.
Screenshot of a social media comment about playing video games frequently during lockdown despite family challenges.
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Man plays video games and secretly buys Star Wars figures after wife bans hobbies, showing hidden passion and dedication.
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Man secretly plays video games and buys Star Wars figures after wife bans his hobbies and destroys collectibles.
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Man secretly plays video games and buys Star Wars figures after wife bans his hobbies at home.
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Man secretly plays video games and buys Star Wars figures after wife bans his hobbies at home.
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Man plays video games and buys Star Wars figures in secret, hiding his hobbies from his wife after she banned them.
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Man plays video games and secretly collects Star Wars figures after wife bans his hobbies.
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Man secretly plays video games and buys Star Wars figures after wife bans his hobbies at home.
Man playing video games and collecting Star Wars figures in secret after wife bans his hobbies at home.
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Man playing video games in a room with Star Wars figures and collectibles displayed on shelves with LED lighting.
Man playing video games at home and secretly buying Star Wars figures after wife bans his hobbies.
Man playing video games alone at night, surrounded by Star Wars figures, hiding his hobbies after wife’s ban.
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Man playing video games and secretly buying Star Wars figures after wife banned his hobbies at home.
Man playing video games and secretly buying Star Wars figures after wife bans his hobbies.
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Man playing video games secretly and buying Star Wars figures after wife banned his hobbies at home.
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Man playing video games and secretly buying Star Wars figures after wife bans hobbies at home.
Man secretly plays video games and buys Star Wars figures after wife bans his hobbies at home.
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Man playing video games and collecting Star Wars figures in secret after wife bans his hobbies at home.
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Man secretly plays video games and buys Star Wars figures after wife bans his hobbies at home.
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Man plays video games and secretly buys Star Wars figures after wife bans his hobbies at home.
Man playing video games at home while secretly buying Star Wars figures after hobby restrictions from wife.
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Robyn is an award-winning journalist who has produced work for several international media outlets. Made in Africa and exported to the world, she is obsessed with travel and the allure of new places. A lover of words and visuals, Robyn is part of the Bored Panda writing team. This Panda has two bamboo tattoos: A map of Africa & the words "Be Like The Bamboo... Bend Never Break."
Robyn is an award-winning journalist who has produced work for several international media outlets. Made in Africa and exported to the world, she is obsessed with travel and the allure of new places. A lover of words and visuals, Robyn is part of the Bored Panda writing team. This Panda has two bamboo tattoos: A map of Africa & the words "Be Like The Bamboo... Bend Never Break."
I'm a Visual Editor for Bored Panda. I’m also an analog collage artist. My love for images and experience in layering goes well with both creating collages by hand and working with digital images as an Editor. When I’m not using my kitchen area as an art studio I also do various experiments making my own cosmetics or brewing kombucha. When I’m not at home you would most definitely find me attending a concert or walking my dog.
I'm a Visual Editor for Bored Panda. I’m also an analog collage artist. My love for images and experience in layering goes well with both creating collages by hand and working with digital images as an Editor. When I’m not using my kitchen area as an art studio I also do various experiments making my own cosmetics or brewing kombucha. When I’m not at home you would most definitely find me attending a concert or walking my dog.
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