When do you know it's time to call it a day on a relationship?

[CookieLady]

Just that really. Married with two kids, meant to be going on holiday next week and the thought fills me with dread. Haven't really got on with each other for the last two years since the birth of our second child. Dunno what else to say really.

I think you know a long time before you actually do anything about it - you hang on in there hoping it will improve and before you know it, years have gone by.

That's what I'm afraid of.

I'd known for ages but I wasnt brave enough to leave. So knowing it was time to leave didn't help me. Then one day I was brave enough to leave and start again.

I'm going on a second date with a really nice man who is great company tonight. Excited. My x has met somebody else too. He met somebody ages ago actually even though he's a boring mean moody bastard and I'm really nice! jk jk We're all happier now. Change is hard though!

Sometimes a room gets messier before it starts to look clean and tidy again. That's how it felt for me. It got worse for a little while before it got a lot better. hth

Yeh, I wasted years too.

Actually, I couldn't face a summer holiday either. I left my xh in July. There was a holiday planned for August. I would have just been wishing we could go home and he'd go back to work and I'd only have to bear him in the evenings. That was bad enough. But all day every day? omg. Torture.

I'm wondering this too. We are meant to be looking for another house to rent, and tbh I can't bring myself to, instead I end up looking at houses just for me and our 2 daughters :/

When your gut tells you. Has never let me down.

how do you know its not a bad patch? I havent gone on holiday with my lot for over 10 yrs.Even day trips have gone by the wayside for us.I must admit i focus on my job more than i should,so did DH but this summer since his ill health (he had a heart attack) all our plans to go out anywhere have fallen through.Now my Dads incurable cancer is back i feel lonelier than ever.I had thought the timing would be terrible to split up with both parents terminally ill but now the kids are doing their own thing i feel a bit trapped with no distractions of chores.
How does anyone know it is the better option for them/the family ?