Breakups & Divorce Support Group
Just broke up with someone or in the midst of a difficult divorce? Breaking up is difficult no matter what the circumstances are. They say that time heals all wounds, but sometimes a listening ear or a hug can work wonders for the heart. Whether you need a place to vent, someone to hold you to No Contact, or need advice about what to do, we're here to help.

Is he irresponsible and a child ? I would say yes, because real men take care of their family needs and would never willingly put the burden on their wife to solely handle everything. With that said you are also at fault for not talking about this sooner and taking steps to stop it before it got so bad. Right now you are more than likely filled with resentment and feeling very unappreciated which is only going to complicate the issue.
If you can afford to do so I suggest family therapy to have a mediator work your issues together. One thing that will help you is time alone to sort things out in your own mind and relax the issues that have been brewing and steaming in your face for far to long.
You have been through a lot and I am not down playing that. You have been through a lot of huge life events in a short time frame and I am guessing you felt pushed into most of them do to how and why you went through the last 4 years.
A relationship can run purely on love that is nurtured and built together with communication and understanding of each person's role in the family dynamic. Love takes work to make it last and it also takes communication to understand what the expectations are.
I wish you luck with your family relationship. If you really love him then take time to work things through. Make him prove to you he can grow up and be the man you want him to be, but don't set your expectations up to fail. In other words DO NOT sweat the small stuff.
Best of luck.
It's fine and dandy that he is finally willing to "man up" after letting you do all the heavy lifting for so many years.
Sorry, but sometimes it is a too little, too late. It's not like he wasn't aware of the stress you were under - he just didn't care. About you, your children. As long as he had you to take care of all the adult responsibilities, he was content to ignore reality and play his video games. It is quite possible that he knows that with you gone, he will have to be an adult. God forbid that happen!!
No, leave him. If he wants back in your life, he will have to prove that he is a man. Maybe in time (lots of time - not a week, or month or several months), he can prove himself and earn his way back into your life.
I applaud you for doing the right thing!
"A relationship can run purely on love that is nurtured and built together with communication and understanding of each person's role in the family dynamic. Love takes work to make it last and it also takes communication to understand what the expectations are."
This is the kind of fairy tale bullshit that keeps woman in unhealthy and dangerous situations. If I love him enough, he will become the man he should be and we can life happily ever after.
You tried life with someone else and that turned out horribly. You could go ahead with a divorce and try it with someone else but there is no guarantee it will be any better. And you have two children to consider. Will someone else be any better father? Or maybe worse?
A separation doesn't have to be the end of the relationship. If you are both willing to work at it (ie counseling etc), it might be the beginning of a new and better one. I agree you might want to consider putting some strong suggestions/rules in place, such as he has to keep permanent employment, contribute to the support of the family, no other relationships with others and the like. If he keeps them and counseling works there may be a change for the love of your life to become the love of your life permanently.
If there is any chance to salvage this family I urge you to take them. I have found in life it is much better to try and if I have to walk away, I can do so knowing I have done everything in my power to try, than to just give up and go through life wondering if it could have be salvaged.
Are either of you believers? If so, don't underestimate the power of prayer. And if you're not, perhaps that is something you might want to look into. It is amazing what God can do in relationships when He is invited in. And the power of a church family is also amazing, especially when trying to build healthy relationships.
I will be praying for you as you work through this.