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Relationships

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Am I wrong for wanting to move in with my partner?

260 replies

Skyeblue91 · 23/07/2026 20:46

I was married for 10 years and we have two boys together. We divorced several several years ago and the boys are 13 and 16.
i now have a serious relationship with a woman that lives 4 hours away.
my ex husband is married and stays in a city near by.
me and my kids live with my grandmother.
i brought up wanting to move in with my partner and you would have thought the roof caved in.
i said the boys had two options, live with me or their dad.
neither one of them want to live with their dad they want to stay at my grandmothers. Since we’ve been there all these years.
but now I’m being told that I don’t love my children enough to be around them anymore. I’m being told that my happiness doesn’t matter. My youngest told me he hates me because I want to do this. Can someone PLEASE give me your opinion. I’m back into a corner.

OP posts:
RigsbysCat · 24/07/2026 14:02

HarpieDuJour · 24/07/2026 11:33

For children, it might be relevant and difficult. It's one more change, and teenagers can have problems with any suggestion that their parents are sexually active.
These children have had their parents divorce, see their father much less often, moved house to live with OPs grandmother, and now their mother is in a relationship with another woman. That's a lot of change on top of exam stress. To add a move which would mean they don't see their great-grandmother every day, and probably won't see their father regularly at all, must seem overwhelming.

I think suggesting that her kids would have a particular problem with it being another woman their mum is seeing, is projecting somewhat. Most young people would not bat an eyelid at this.

As for everything else they might be upset about, that is all understandable.

Error404FucksNotFound · 24/07/2026 14:09

I would not choose to move hours away from my minor children for a romantic relationship.

You've got decades left after they are grown to prioritise romance. They need to be your priority when they are children.

Tortephant · 24/07/2026 15:51

How many years have you and the boys lived with Grandmother @Skyeblue91?
Do you work?

Nottodaty · 24/07/2026 16:05

Children need stability, they already from what you said have an inadequate father and now you wish to add more onto their young shoulders.

Your time will come and hopefully this hasn’t meant the children now see you as someone who wants to leave them and their trust in you has changed . They may now feel that both parents have/are failing them by not really wanting them.

AnotherForumUser · 24/07/2026 16:05

Your preferred option will be disruptive for your children at this crucial stage in their education and in their friendships. You will all be vulnerable moving into another person's home should the relationship not survive living together as a family.

The option of staying with their clearly selfish and useless dad does not appeal to them. They would hate it along with seeing their mother abandon them.

The option of staying with your grandmother might be their preference but it is unfair to dump then on her so you can move in with your partner. Your grandmother is an older lady looking after teenagers solo would be a challenge. And your children would still be seeing their mother abandon them. And your grandmother is also dropped by you like a hot potato.

The option of your partner moving in is also unacceptable. She would have to sell her home and resign from a secure well paid job. that's her security and I wouldn't be surprised if she's unwilling to sacrifice that the off chance the relationship works out. What happens if she can't find a suitable job near you? What happens if the relationship cannot withstand the pressures of your children perceiving that someone who is basically a stranger has been put into their home, their sanctuary. What happens if she finds it tough living with your children! Even parents can find their own teens tough work, just look at the threads on this site. She'd be the one that would obviously leave having sacrificed her previous home and work.

It strikes me that everyone loses out in the various options listed above. Apart from you. Because you get what you want without making the sacrifices your children, your grandmother or your partner would make. It's usually the parents who make sacrifices for their growing children. Yup your ex is a twat. But you have to be there for your children. And you need to recognise that every one is best served by you staying where you are and your partner staying where she is until your children have become adults.

Keep it as a romantic relationship without living together. Long distance relationships can work out, and if it does so over the next few years then It's got a good chance of withstanding the inevitable change and challenges of living together in the future. Long distance relationships are hard work but can be very successful.

If they fail then its likely that living together would have also been a disaster because that brings its own stresses and strains on a relationship. And if it fails at least neither partner has had to uproot their lives and their responsibilities. It's better for all.

ForeverNowWithin · 24/07/2026 16:18

This is one of those threads where the poster has no user history, they post with some dilemma that's bound to set the cat among the pigeons, then they never come back to the thread. Meanwhile, 9 pages later we are all still discussing the issue among ourselves.

Rosesandthorns66 · 24/07/2026 17:44

ForeverNowWithin · 24/07/2026 16:18

This is one of those threads where the poster has no user history, they post with some dilemma that's bound to set the cat among the pigeons, then they never come back to the thread. Meanwhile, 9 pages later we are all still discussing the issue among ourselves.

Edited

I'm guessing she has a lot to think about here.
At the end of the day, she has only two choices.
She will either put her relationship first.
Or
She will put her two children first. I hope she puts her darling children first. They deserve stability and their mother.
I hope @Skyeblue91 see's sense and realises this.
Every single reply has absolutely tried very hard to share with her the reasons why moving with or without her children would be a bad idea.
Either way the children will suffer and become disturbed.
If she leaves them behind at that age, they may never forgive her. Going forward, If she looks back and realises she made a mistake, the damage will have been done. It will be too late for regrets.

hcee19 · 24/07/2026 17:59

As a parent, your children come first. Why do you think it would be ok to uproot them from everything they know, so you can be together with your partner. They have already experienced their parents living in different homes and now you want to move them, away from their friends , to new schools in an area they don't know, thats good of you. Your children have become settled where they are now and you want to uproot them for your selfish needs. If you go ahead, l imagine, you will the only one going. You will regret it...

Iz20 · 24/07/2026 18:00

I think children especially the younger one might initially feel that way I think it normal it won’t change until you actually do it and they see you have not abandoned them to go live your life when you start showing up to everything and make an effort to be with them as they need you they will be ok it will take time and it will not be easy for you it’s a lot of work but kids see actions not words good luck .

vincettenoir · 24/07/2026 18:04

If this “serious” gf doesn’t want to move to where you and your family are, there’s your answer.

MMUmum · 24/07/2026 18:08

Skyeblue91 · 23/07/2026 20:46

I was married for 10 years and we have two boys together. We divorced several several years ago and the boys are 13 and 16.
i now have a serious relationship with a woman that lives 4 hours away.
my ex husband is married and stays in a city near by.
me and my kids live with my grandmother.
i brought up wanting to move in with my partner and you would have thought the roof caved in.
i said the boys had two options, live with me or their dad.
neither one of them want to live with their dad they want to stay at my grandmothers. Since we’ve been there all these years.
but now I’m being told that I don’t love my children enough to be around them anymore. I’m being told that my happiness doesn’t matter. My youngest told me he hates me because I want to do this. Can someone PLEASE give me your opinion. I’m back into a corner.

They are children, you can't just abandon them to your Grandma because you want to move in with your partner.
Unfortunately for you, you will have to wait until they are older and ready to be
independent

AnonyMumAuDHD · 24/07/2026 18:16

Octavia64 · 23/07/2026 20:48

At those ages moving 4 hours away means losing all their friends and trying to get a place at a new school.
has the 16 year old done GCSEs? Presumably they have a place at a sixth form.

no, they won’t want to move.

Sorry OP - I’m afraid you are being selfish. Priority should be your DC.

You need to wait until they have finished school, or partner needs to move to where you - and the boys - are until they have finished school. If, as you say, that’s not possible, then you’ll have to muddle along as you are doing now or, alternatively, you make a plan with your mother for them to stay there and you move, but that would be really really cold.

Pinkdhalia · 24/07/2026 18:17

I'd have to say NO don't move in with a partner at the expense of you children's happiness! They are settled in school with friends. You want to uproot them to someone they don't know, to a new school, no friends , To make yourself whole ! NO until your children are old enough to leave home and make their own choices. You are to wait! They have a dad they don't need someone to take his place to be your partner!

Iamgettingolderandgrumpier · 24/07/2026 18:20

Put your children first and wait a few years until they are both 18, at university or working. I know a number of women in similar position to you. ALL of them are waiting until DC have left school. No teenager is going to want to move away from their friends, schools, father + grandparents.

sobby · 24/07/2026 18:21

lollibit · 23/07/2026 20:52

So basically they don't want to live with their mother who is in a lesbian relationship? They also don't want to move schools etc, lose friends and move 4 hours away? What did you expect ?

Who said they don’t want to live with their mother because she is in a lesbian relationship? That appears to be a statement based on your own assumptions. It is an inappropriate and potentially prejudicial remark, and it wrongly attributes a view that has never been expressed.” !!!
Yes I’m sure the boys don’t want to move 4 hours away from where they are living now , having to change schools and will loose their friends and not be able to see their grandmother as often .

Anyahyacinth · 24/07/2026 18:24

They've already lived through a divorce OP. These are critical years.
I hear you about DH being free, that's how our society is structured.. it's desperately unfair...this though...this would harm your boys. They've made a life and need to get through school and exams to build a good future ...not endure big changes

Winniepoobear · 24/07/2026 18:26

I moved my 14yr old and 16yr old to move in with my partner. Their Dad was a complete arsehole so it wasnt him they were going to miss, it was their friends.
But they came regardless, the 16yr old started at college, the 14yr old started school. Was it hard for them .... yes, so hard. But - they made new friends, they settled and have been living here for over 25years now. Married with their own children. In the long run, for us it was the best move. But getting to that stage wasnt easy, rebellious teenager stage hit hard lol ...
I understand your kids dont want to move, do they ever go & visit your partner with u, can you take them, show them around the place schools etc, its what we did and it helped somewhat.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 24/07/2026 18:28

I think you should wait for 5 more years and move to your partner then if you’re still together

Applesonthelawn · 24/07/2026 18:47

YADBVVU. Of course your kids don't want to uproot their whole lives and venture into the unknown just because you have a GF. I wouldn't entertain this. But you clearly think it's okay and you are going to continue to be the person you are. Let them stay with the grandmother.

malefields · 24/07/2026 18:50

IStillHearTheWaves · 23/07/2026 21:37

i said the boys had two options, live with me or their dad.

Wow.

thats generally how it goes with children of divorce (myself included), I don’t really see anything abnormal in that

@Skyeblue91 those ages are tricky, is there any way this could be delayed?

PropertyD · 24/07/2026 18:55

God this sounds so selfish. Let the boys stay with their grand ma and you do your thing. Dont be surprised if this all blows up in your face though

redskyAtNigh · 24/07/2026 18:57

malefields · 24/07/2026 18:50

thats generally how it goes with children of divorce (myself included), I don’t really see anything abnormal in that

@Skyeblue91 those ages are tricky, is there any way this could be delayed?

The abnormal bit is that the choice is actually "live with me and move 4 hours away or stay here and live with your dad". Which is somewhat different.

SleepingStandingUp · 24/07/2026 19:18

Grammarnut · 24/07/2026 13:45

That does not mean they should not.

you think the kids should be pulled from their lives on a whim cos Mom thinks this new woman might be THE ONE? Despite the fact this woman doesn't care enough about the family to make any compromises of her own, they've never lived together and it's unlikely they've actually even spent that much time together?

pouletvous · 24/07/2026 19:23

Wait 2-3 years and then move

seventeenofsumday · 24/07/2026 19:26

Well I see u didn't come back op. Not got the answers you were hoping for I guess! I would suggest if you are so In love and serious about each other then your partner sells her house and finds a job near you so you can move in together locally. Why does her want of not wanting to sell the house or change jobs and move Trump your child's needs and wants to not be taken away from. Their family and friends to go live with your girlfriend? It's shit behaviour from you op and I think you must know that deep down hense you not being able to justify it on here