Whatever you are doing is fine to say. Walking around a park, browsing a bookshop, visiting an old friend.
It is often fear behind any clingyness. So a firm, confident manner is good. "I'm going now. I will be back at X time".
Don't leave space for an inquisition - that leaves the potential she could join you. If you sound guilty for leaving, she may pick up on it.
The break is good for you AND her! She may not realise how - but it will help her too. You are her main caregiver. 4 short hours is essential for some solo recharge or down time.
You're an adult and as suggested by BarbBrooklyn lower on the thread, "I'm going out" is reason enough. Is four hours a week the only respite you get out of the house? I truly hope not because that's not nearly enough.
My Dad used to say "Have to go see a man about a dog". Might work as well as anything. But why not just say the usual "shopping, business, work". Likely nothing will make much of a difference if the problem is that she doesn't want you to leave. Not everything can be made perfect or even OK. Sometimes things just are what they are. Wishing you luck.
"Have to go see a man about a dog" means you have to go to the bathroom. His wife might think he has prostate issues if he's gone for four hours about that dog!
This may sound 'funny' but 'I'm going out' could, could, to an insecure person sound like 'I'm going out On A Date', lol. Maybe the 'white lie' of "I'm going to work" cuz usually no one goes to work with someone, AND like some comedians do, under their breath: 'I'm going to work (on my sanity), (on my fitness), (on my coffee habit), (on my sleep deficit). We all have lots of things we 'work' on; hopefully wife will be calmed by a 'common' activity like 'work.'
Yet you need a break. Take it.
Whatever you are doing is fine to say. Walking around a park, browsing a bookshop, visiting an old friend.
It is often fear behind any clingyness. So a firm, confident manner is good. "I'm going now. I will be back at X time".
Don't leave space for an inquisition - that leaves the potential she could join you. If you sound guilty for leaving, she may pick up on it.
The break is good for you AND her! She may not realise how - but it will help her too. You are her main caregiver. 4 short hours is essential for some solo recharge or down time.
Is four hours a week the only respite you get out of the house? I truly hope not because that's not nearly enough.
😂😂