Thought 1: Your husband joins you in the morning because he finds you attractive enough to want to be intimate with you. You are wanted in that sense, right? I’m feeling glass-half-full about that, Unloved.

Thought 2: Do you have a TV in your bedroom? I assume your husband falls asleep in front of the television. If he could watch TV in bed, he’d fall asleep next to you, right?

Thought 3: Do you snore? Does he? Is there something about his or your routine that makes him flee to the couch? Does he object to your bed time? It’s worth asking.

Thought 4: Would a new bed help? Pricey, but worth it. Go shopping together. Debate pillow top and memory foam. Make it a romantic retail experience.

Thought 5: He’s probably embarrassed about the movies. And I get why they make you feel bad. But we all have active fantasy lives. He might be more open with you if he knows he’s not going to have to feel ashamed about his interests. Let him know that you just want to feel closer to him.

Thought 6: You’re focused on the sleeping. He might show you love in other ways. Don’t ignore those other ways.

Readers? Do married people have to sleep together? Anyone have trouble sleeping comfortably with their partner? Is his couch time about a need for alone time? Is that OK? How can the letter writer make her husband understand that mornings aren’t enough? Discuss.

– Meredith