How do I break up with someone I still love?

[Stickytapeunicorn]

I love DP, he is the love of my life but the timing is wrong for many reasons. My children are hard and my youngest has SEND and is never likely to accept a partner. We’ve been together for two years and I’ve kept my dc and dp separate during that time. I can see no way of moving forwards. He would like to move in together and I have been clear that I can’t do that but I know really he wants more.
There are other things too but basically I am aware the relationship isn’t right even though I love him very much.
This is so fucking hard.

So it’s not that ‘the timing is wrong’ but that, based on what you currently know about him, you think your boyfriend wouldn’t be good at handling negative response(s) from your DC and/or step parenting?

If so, then YANBU to end the relationship.

Loving someone isn’t always good reason to continue a relationship.

You are pre-empting without trying to make it work. What if your kids would be happy about him moving in?

Tell him that its not in the best interests of your children that you live together. But you are happy for things to continue as they are (if you are). And see how he responds. He might be onboard with it, or he might end it. Either way problem solved.