Ina Garten has published a brand new memoir detailing all that she has been through over the years. In particular, Ina goes into her union with her husband Jeffrey Garten and how they couldn’t stay together for a long time.
RELATED: Halle Berry Files for Sole Custody
People Magazine reported that her book “Be Ready When the Luck Happens” describes their separation in full. Ina explains just how close her marriage came to falling apart and why. Here’s her story.
Ina Wanted a Divorce
Ina has been especially candid regarding her complicated relationship with her husband Jeffrey in her latest memoir. She revealed that she had actually contemplated asking him for a divorce outright, but hesitated and chose to ask for a separation instead.
According to People, Ina specifically chose to ask for a separation because she still loved Jeffrey and never intended to hurt him. She admitted that she knew she would need to be on her own for a while, but she never specified how long their separation would need to last. Ina wasn’t sure if it would last forever.
RELATED: Are Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Getting Back Together?
Jeffrey was surprisingly understanding and left Ina to herself while he returned to Washington to work. Now, Ina is glad she did what she did at the time.
People reported her saying of the matter, “Thank god I did. I think how crazy that was and how dangerous it was, but we wouldn’t have the relationship we have now if I hadn’t done it.”
Ina Was Obsessed With Her Work
Ina explained in her memoir that the traditional family roles she and Jeffrey had lived by were shattered when she purchased Barefoot Contessa. According to People, Ina perceived all of her daily actions as those of a businesswoman from that moment onward. She no longer had time to think about being a wife.
RELATED: Steve and Marjorie Harvey Marriage Update
As far as Ina was concerned, every single moment of her life was about her work. She considered her husband little more than a distraction when he came to visit on the weekends.
People quoted her, mentioning, “Jeffrey was fully formed and living the life he wanted to live. I wasn’t, and I wouldn’t be able to figure out who I was or what I wanted unless I was on my own.”
Ina Told Jeffrey to Get Therapy
Apparently, Ina didn’t stop with wanting Jeffrey to disappear. According to People, she told him he needed therapy and would have to commit to seeing a therapist to have her back in his life.
Amazingly, Jeffrey took her challenge and went to a therapist for an hour. Ina said that he understood everything after that. That was also enough to convince her that he was serious about making their relationship work, no matter what.
Her words on the matter were, “Jeffrey’s willingness to see the therapist was as significant as anything that might happen during their session. He was that determined to convince me he was serious about making our marriage work.”
