Dear Prudence,
My middle-aged husband is unable to hold a full-time job because of depression problems related to traumatic childhood abuse. He is making progress in treatment. The good news is that I earn enough to support us both, and he is great at being a house husband. He walks dogs, runs errands, washes laundry and dishes, does repairs, and even brings me my morning coffee in bed. My problem is that when people ask that classic line, “What does he do for a living?” every reply leads down Awkward Street. We don’t have kids, so the expectation is that he should be out of the house. He’s not retired and not physically disabled, and I don’t want to embarrass him by blowing the whistle on his mental health. My remaining honest replies are, “None of your business” (harsh), “He’s my assistant” (“Like at an office or something?”), “Unemployed” (“What field? I’ve got leads!”), and “Taking a break” (“Oh, so you’re spoiling him!”). You’re good at scripts, so what’s my line?
—Explaining My Husband’s Depression-Related Unemployment