DuckHairback wrote:
You sound like you know what needs to be done, but you're looking for someone to give you permission. First your wife, then your daughter, now us.
I think, when you've been in a relationship for a long time, particularly as part of a family, you get so used to thinking of yourself as part of that unit, and thinking about what is right and wrong in terms of what is right and wrong for that unit, it's hard to go back to thinking about yourself as an individual and what's right and wrong for you. It feels selfish. It is selfish. But sometimes you need to be selfish.
You're trying to justify this divorce in terms of your family unit. I've never done it, but I don't think it often works that way. It's usually one person jumping out of the boat. As rse92 says, it's going to suck. People are going to be angry with you, at first at least, and maybe they will or won't forgive you at some point.
Objectively, based on what little you've told us about you and your family, it sounds like you're miserable, your kid(s) are old enough to handle it, your wife doesn't like you very much but is terrified of you not being there and in the long run everyone is going to be happier if you get out. So if you want my permission, you have it.
I wondered for long what was blocking me. I think that you nailed what my therapists didn’t. Thanks