2018
Me: One and done. We can’t handle more children. You’re not happy. I’m not happy. Son is obviously having issues with this. Let’s cancel our foster license and move on.
Wife: We can’t just give up on the kids.
Results: More children. More yelling. Guaranteed future with regular police interactions. General unhappiness in our home.

Early 2021
Me: we can’t handle a dog. It will be one more thing to add to the shitshow.
Wife: { spends almost 4k on a dog }
Results: New dog that shits everywhere. Constant stress. Kids not helping at all. I have to dog sit because I’ll be dammed if I pay an extra $500 for pet sitting while going on vacation. House is never clean even though she doesn’t work.

Late summer 2021 after major storms
Me: Don’t take in that f****** bird.
Wife: I’ll take it to the humane society tomorrow.
Results: She is hand feed the f****** bird the next day. Kitchen is a mess. Kids are being f*** head assholes. Says I’m just a “mean man.”

I will kill myself before the end of 2022 if we maintain this trajectory.