DEAR AMY: Lately you’ve published several letters from women who are in long-term marriages but are so unhappy that they are considering leaving the marriage.
I was 70 years old and in a 48-year marriage when my husband and I separated. At my insistence, we were seeing a couples counselor. When it became apparent that my husband wasn’t interested in saving the marriage, we separated. We had been married for more than 52 years when we finally divorced in 2019.
I stayed in that marriage because I was scared that I couldn’t make it on my own financially, but I did. I’ve learned so much since the divorce and I don’t regret my decision for one second.
This isn’t the solution for everyone, and I’m not advocating for separation or divorce, but I’d like to encourage any woman who is miserable in her marriage to seek a way to make it better. If that doesn’t work, remember that you may be stronger than you think.
– Been There
DEAR BEEN THERE: You are part of a growing trend known as “gray divorce.”
There are many serious consequences to divorcing at your age, but I agree that most of us are stronger than we think.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
