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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Mid life crisis in your 70's?

7 replies

LonelySeahorses · 15/01/2026 20:54

My husband is ex military and was retired out of the army after a dangerous activity doing a certain sport. He almost died and had to spend a long time in rehab. No brain damage but lots of breaks. He has scars. This was before we met.

When we met and married, he said he had "finished" all of that, remained in contact with the groups, attended events but didn't join in with the actual events.

He is super obsessed with it all and is glued to his phone when certain team results come in etc. He was very good at this sport back in the day and clearly and understandably harks back to being younger maybe. All in all, its great for him to be involved and i whole heartedly support his interests and hobbys.
He is really active and thrives on lots of hyper things going on. He is a great partner and I want him to be happy of course. However, we attended a get together recently (all nice people and all current military, super fit, doing runs accross deserts and back to back marathons. Seriously super human!

A few weeks later out the blue he let me know that there was space for him to attend next year and he has booked his slot🥺 i had no say in it.

At 72 i am really concerned. His adult kids have egged him on as think it's all quite funny. It's a two week event and he will participate most days so injury is likely. Im frightened. I know his kids think its a laugh but if he is injured, or worse, my heart will break. It's a really inaccessible place to get to, costs thousands to get there, i have a lot of responsibilities here and it would be incredibly difficult to drop everything to be there for him. He knows this.

I don't want to cause upset or anger by going on about it, especially as his children particularly arent very keen on me anyway😔 they are all puffed up about him going out to attemd.

i am terrified something is going to happen.

I am several years younger than him, still work full time, have kids and grandkids. I have huge responsibilities and being selfish and practical,him going off without a care with a concern of injury, or worse, has really shaken how i feel about the marriage.

I dont want him to be hurt but he is ignoring my concerns. I also dont want to end up being a party pooper and everyone saying im trying to upset things. What would anyone else do or think?

I did half jokingly say to him id always fancied my motorbike licence ( i have in fact!) Id love a big bike and to zoom about and join a social group. What stops me is my responsibilites, including being his wife, and the thought that if i was injured, that someone else would have to step in and bring in mortgage money and run the house / support the kids. I couldnt lumber everyone with that but feel he is happy to put himself in danger participating in this sport.

I am probably being unreasonable but in your 70's you dont bounce back like you do in your 30's.
I appreciate the keith richards, & Mic Jaggers of the world. Thanks for listening to me.
I know i have to chill out and accept its happening but its made me feel quite unnerved and anxious.

OP posts:
takealettermsjones · 15/01/2026 21:02

I'm confused as to what he's actually doing - is it a desert run, the team sport he follows, the thing that injured him, or just the get together?

Also, when you say he's very active, do you mean he still plays sport/goes to the gym etc?

I'll be honest I feel like at 72, if he doesn't do it now he never will. Life is short and it isn't guaranteed; my very fit and active dad dropped dead at 57. I'd support him, albeit I know it must be very worrying for you!

Catza · 15/01/2026 21:13

I mean anything can happen to anyone at any point. Is it potentially dangerous? Don't know, as you don't say what it is but asking him not to do it just because he has history of injuries seems overbearing.
And as far as you not wanting to follow your dreams, that's your decision. I assume your kids are adults so don't really need your support. I would hate for my mum to think she can't do something because she needs to help me. Help me with what? I am an adult!
If you get ill, your husband will "run the house". Surely, he should be taking part in running of the house anyway. Perhaps you should lumber a few people with some responsibilities and get yourself a motorbike. You only live once, as they say.

LonelySeahorses · 15/01/2026 21:18

takealettermsjones · 15/01/2026 21:02

I'm confused as to what he's actually doing - is it a desert run, the team sport he follows, the thing that injured him, or just the get together?

Also, when you say he's very active, do you mean he still plays sport/goes to the gym etc?

I'll be honest I feel like at 72, if he doesn't do it now he never will. Life is short and it isn't guaranteed; my very fit and active dad dropped dead at 57. I'd support him, albeit I know it must be very worrying for you!

Im outwardly supporting him of course! Im honestly aware that this may be sort of last chance for him..so absolutely want him to feel free to participate.

The sport he will be doing is what injured him in the first place. It was enough to end his military career.
Thanks, i want him to be happy...i think it was the lack of discussion with me, the fact he had assured me he had finished with all of this...and the worry that i dont have the resources to juggle work, kids and grandkids along with the house as well as caring fpr him if something happens.

Part of me thinks that any of us could die young or have a terrible accident / live for the day etx..but i also am finding i feel that he made a decision that will affect us both withoit discussing it with me x

OP posts:
outerspacepotato · 15/01/2026 21:20

His life insurance may not pay out fully or even in part if he dies while participating in extreme sports, depends on the policy he's got. Or they may jack his premium to unaffordable levels.

He's already injured himself seriously doing it when he was younger. Who's going to be his long term caregiver of he's seriously injured again? Does he expect it to be you?What kind of rehab can he go into where you are if seriously injured?

Are there a lot of seniors participating in this? Just how much of a dumbass move is this for a man in his 70s?

Personally, I'd have a talk with him and I would not be in favour of him doing this. I'd let him know I would not be his caretaker in case of severe injury and detach myself and get my ducks in order.

There's sickness, and there's deliberate dumbassery. Extreme sports in his 70s would be the latter.

Whatwouldnanado · 15/01/2026 21:21

Let him go, cheer him on. Life is short and time in good health limited. You can’t stop him anyway. It’s wonderful that he has chance for another crack at something so important to him. Trust him to be careful. His previous experience will make him cautious or at least sensible about taking chances.

GentleSheep · 15/01/2026 21:26

I do think it's very foolish of him and you're not wrong to be worried. However opposing this idea could just make him dig his heels in further. You may just have to leave him to it and pray nothing goes wrong. Horrible position for you to be in!

TheLadyWithoutTheLamp · 15/01/2026 21:30

LonelySeahorses · 15/01/2026 21:18

Im outwardly supporting him of course! Im honestly aware that this may be sort of last chance for him..so absolutely want him to feel free to participate.

The sport he will be doing is what injured him in the first place. It was enough to end his military career.
Thanks, i want him to be happy...i think it was the lack of discussion with me, the fact he had assured me he had finished with all of this...and the worry that i dont have the resources to juggle work, kids and grandkids along with the house as well as caring fpr him if something happens.

Part of me thinks that any of us could die young or have a terrible accident / live for the day etx..but i also am finding i feel that he made a decision that will affect us both withoit discussing it with me x

He did make this potentially life changing decision without consulting you. Imo that seems selfish. Will his children be around to look after him should he need nursing care afterwards?

I'd try to ensure that finances are sorted if possible. I wouldn't have thought life insurance or critical illness insurance would pay our for an extreme sport injury

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