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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

It’s the start of closure on 25yr relationship

8 replies

Iwanttoslowdown · 18/12/2022 01:19

I love him, we have built a life together and have 3 children. And it’s so hard.

And now we’re done. All these years on I’m tired and we are starting the conversation about how we de-couple.

And I’m just so desperately sad that we couldn’t make it work.

OP posts:
Hawkins001 · 18/12/2022 01:25

Holy spirit, my ex is approaching 14-15 years and two kids, from what I know they are doing well but I guess after seeing your op, op, years doesn't mean concrete relationship etc.

All the best and positivity

Lovelybunchofwhatnots · 18/12/2022 08:21

It’s so hard, after sharing your lives for so long. I can relate, I ended my 25 year relationship very recently. We also have 3 children. Amicable terms, just drifted apart and not a relationship anymore.

It’s hard to know how to act or feel sometimes. Unknown territory for me personally as this was my first proper relationship. His too.

Here if you need to vent. I have found it very therapeutic here on MN during this time x

KateBain · 18/12/2022 09:10

If you love him why do you need to "de-couple"? What are you hoping to find on the other side?

Anothernick · 18/12/2022 09:15

Why do you say you couldn't make it work? You've been together 25 years so it must have worked pretty well in the past?

AllyArty · 18/12/2022 09:20

You are very brave. So many would just put up and shut up. I have no suggestions how you start again after such a long time but i just wanted to wish you health and happiness in this new phase of your life.

Iwanttoslowdown · 18/12/2022 09:33

@Lovelybunchofwhatnots can I kindly ask how long it took as a process. For me this year has been like slow motion breakdown. We love each other but ultimately feel that we have changed and keep trying and ending up in the same place. It’s so sad and I want to end it and then dont want to imagine life without him.

OP posts:
MyVisionsComeFromSoup · 18/12/2022 12:20

I left my ex 2.5 years ago after 30 odd years together, the relationship had been going seriously downhill for a long time (no sex for 12 years or so - a sign of how bad things were that I can't actually remember how long it was!), so for me it was easier to get over as looking back, I'd dealt with all the "grieving the loss of the relationship" before I actually left. Once I'd actually said out loud to him "I don't think we should live together any more", it took me about 6 weeks to move, helped by the fact that all the DC were adults by then.

I'm a bit sad that I spent such a huge chunk of my life trying to make the relationship work, but I made a conscious decision when I left not to dwell on the bad bits, and to look forwards to the next 30 years of my life. I did some scary (to me) things like go on holiday alone, eat by myself in a restaurant, and after two years, the DC convinced me to have a look at OLD ("why don't you see what's out there mother!"), so I took the plunge, and have been seeing a gorgeous (younger 😉) man since we met up on what was my first ever date (dating wasn't a thing back in the day), who thinks I'm gorgeous and sexy, and makes me laugh, and feel good about myself (self confidence hits the absolute bottom when the person who you are married to, who is supposed to want you, doesn't seem to care one way or the other).

So for me, it was a very long process, but I'd gone through most of the emotional stuff before we split up, so all that was left was the admin side of things (which is still ongoing, but that's a whole saga in itself). He thinks he loves me, but what he actually means is that I filled the "wife" shaped space in his life, I didn't really exist as an individual in my own right in his head. What I am now dealing with is how the DC are managing their own relationships with him, now that I'm not there to run interference between them, which is simultaneously very sad, and entirely down to how much effort he (didn't) put in over the years.

OP, it's scary, really really scary, but for me ultimately worth it - I'm no longer stressed, depressed and ill, friends who saw me about six months after I'd left reckoned I looked at least 20 years younger, and I know now that it's not me that's crap in bed 😂But, even if this relationship doesn't last or work out, I have fun and excitement in my life again, I smile every time a message pops up from my friend, rather than dreading opening whatsapp to see what the next thing I was doing wrong was, and most noticeably (according to the DC - nothing is as brutal as a DD with an opinion!) my resting bitch face has vanished 😃

SquishyGloopyBum · 18/12/2022 12:33

Have you tried marriage counselling? If nothing help it might help you de-couple in the best way you can?

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