I prefer to view my marriage as a mutually considerate relationship, regardless of how anachronistic that makes me.
My wife is 9 years younger than me and yet so much more mature than most of the women of my age (I turned 55 this year).
We had our kids, knowing that it would affect- her career as a corporate attorney (she also happened to have graduated with honors from one of the top 12 law schools in the country; GO BLUE).
While there was about a 6 year stretch where we struggled, I'm fairly certain neither of us would change any decisions we made along the way.
I don't think of us as incongruent; more like complimentarily colinear.
Indeed, it was not a critique meant for you, but rather the silent viewer from afar.
Usually when you hear that phrase, it's not a good sign.
There was a time when Happy Wife, Happy Life didn't have that negative connotation.
My wife preferred family life to a "career" at a law firm.
Strong women helped make men great, kept them in line and, when necessary, beat the hell out of them with a broomstick to teach them a lesson.
Seems like these days, everyone is falling all over each other to be the latest "victim".