what if they were right

[runningoutoftime]

You just be friends. There's "love" in friendship.

Also, you have to water yourself (i.e. love yourself). You can't depend on any spouse or OP to constantly provide that.

I think if there are no more kids in the house you have less to lose, but if there are underaged children that's too big a gamble. You lose too much. No OP can make up for losing the relationship with your kids (Being a part-time parent is NEVER as good as being a full-time parent. I don't care what anyone says... in doesn't come close....).

A WAS is never right to leave when there are kids involved.

Because when it comes down to it, men or women, relationships, boyfriends, girlfriends, marriages, etc... can come and go, but there's no such thing as "divorcing" one's children. Certainly one can destroy that relationship, abandon their kids, give them up for adoption, choose not to have any relationship with... but when it comes down to it, one's children (like parents), are usually the only "sure" relationship one can depend on.

One should never give that up for a "maybe." Also, if there is some other great relationship out there, if OP or a different life is "meant to be," they will still be there after the children are gone. And if not... well, then it was never meant to be.