Marriage & divorce.
Most of the time when you have children the bond is deeper, even if the marriage doesn't last.
My 2nd ex-husband is 11 years older. We divorced in 1980. (my choice)
He's been remarried for many years, over 30. His wife is older than him & is suffering from dementia & had a hip replacement & fell so she is afraid to be out of bed much. Bob has a woman that comes twice a day to help Mary.
But Mary isn't great company these days.
We were married 10 years & had one son, my youngest. The end of our marriage was rough. If he couldn't have me, no one would, his words holding the carving knife. That's when I called the police, he was arrested & I got an order of protection & the marriage was over. That was the FIRST & ONLY time he threatened me.
We were both drinking too much then, made matters worse.
I quit in 1983, he quit years later.
Bob has been calling lately. He's been reflecting & suffers with regrets.
He said he was such a jackass & wishes he'd been a better husband.
I told him we all make mistakes & I try to remember the many good times we had. That helped him.
Time passes & its better for me to remember many good times we had.
He regrets not taking me away more, but I'm a homebody so that was never an issue for me. We were members of an performing theater & enjoyed many concerts.
And installed an in the ground pool, which made for very enjoyable summers with the kids.
He walks in the mall with a few male friends. He was telling them he married me when I was 20 & he was 31, they were impressed. But... he said, now she's 65!
... ah, but I'm still MUCH YOUNGER than you!
He said I always had the best sense of humor, of course he's right ;))
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