Dear John: My wife often leaves to go on the road for her job, leaving me to care for the house and our two boys, ages 8 and 6. When she gets back home, I know she needs time to unwind, but I need time as well. And that's my question: What's fair here? When I share with her my feelings, it often leads to an argument. Any advice? —Needing a Break, in Evanston, Ill.

Dear Needing a Break: Both of you need to be more accommodating to each other's needs. The role reversal you're experiencing from the lives of your fathers and mothers is becoming more common but no less profound. Additionally, in these tough economic times, tens of thousands of couples are simply trying to make it all work, regardless of the added pressures of holding new roles in their domestic lives.

Stressful times, although they tempt us to talk less, are actually times when we must communicate more. Talk it out, but remember to lead with all the love you have in your heart for both her and your boys. Don't bring it up when you're tired and stressed out, but when you've had some time to breath, perhaps even go out on a date. And when you do talk, don't come from a place of frustration or disappointment but from a place of support. You've built a life and a family together. Your shared future at every point is more important and certainly more lasting than the daily pressures of making a living and raising a family.

Dear John: My dad died eight months ago of a massive heart attack. It was sudden and he was only 57. I saw him a few days before his death and we argued over something silly. I feel terrible that this was my last encounter with my dad. How can I move beyond these feelings of guilt? — Ashamed Son, in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Dear Ashamed: It would be nice if we could all look back on a happy parting when we last were with a loved one. Unfortunately, as you know, real life often doesn't work that way. You need to focus on the depth of your relationship and not a fleeting moment when you were last with one another. We find love and redemption in the fullness of time. The true love you once shared as father and son is what will endure.

John Gray is the author of "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus"; Visit his website, http://www.marsvenus.com, for advice on dating, marriage, parenting, romance and workplace issues. Or email him at [email protected]. To find out more about John Gray and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.