30 Women Recall the Moment They Knew Their Marriage Was Over

When it's done . . . it's done, and you just feel it. When a bad marriage has finally reached its expiration date, you know it's time to pack it in. I spoke to 30 women who shared with me the moment that they knew: this marriage is done. For good. From drug use to affairs, each reason was the tipping point that led to divorce.

01
Sick, Pregnant, and Alone
Unsplash | freestocks.org

Sick, Pregnant, and Alone

"When I was pregnant and sick with our second son for two months before he was born and my husband came to visit me once. Once. Barely called, too." — Lisa M.

02
Didn't Care If He Came Home From Work
Unsplash | Muhammad Raufan Yusup

Didn't Care If He Came Home From Work

"When I didn't care where he was when he didn't come home from work . . . I knew." — Pat C.

03
Did It All — He Still Complained
Unsplash | Aidan Bartos

Did It All — He Still Complained

"When I realized I did 90 percent of the work in the home, earned 95 percent of the money, paid all the bills, managed child care and food shopping . . . and when I said I was overwhelmed, he told me to try running my own business and see how stressful it is!" — Sue E.

04
Wanted Me to Get Pregnant, Then Asked Me to Abort the Baby
Unsplash | Keenan Constance

Wanted Me to Get Pregnant, Then Asked Me to Abort the Baby

"When he begged me to give him a child because he had none and he was 39. I got pregnant, and he begged me to abort the baby. I found out he has two kids in another state he doesn't see or pay child support to . . . " — Crystal F.

05
Loneliness Was Too Much
Unsplash | Jacob Morrison

Loneliness Was Too Much

"When the loneliness became so painful." — Natalie O.

06
Intense Emotional and Psychological Abuse
Unsplash | Aimee Vogelsang

Intense Emotional and Psychological Abuse

"After years of emotional and psychological abuse and torture . . . I accused him of lying about something (about money, unbeknownst to him) and he admitted his affair. It was my ticket out!" — Rachel L.

07
Proof of an Affair
Unsplash | Adrien

Proof of an Affair

"When I saw the text 'Can I still call you?' from the other girl in his phone." — Tracy C.

08
Proof of Child Abuse
Unsplash | Nick Nice

Proof of Child Abuse

"When I said child protective services came to the house after the school reported his abuse, and he said he didn't have a problem and didn't need help!" — April W.

09
Barely Working
Unsplash | rawpixel.com

Barely Working

"He said 'maybe' he could look for job in a different field, his old field, since he hadn't found any work in his 'aspirational field.' Meanwhile, I was completely supporting us financially and couldn't take time off with our soon-to-be second child." — Danielle T.

10
No Attraction
Unsplash | Krista Mangulsone

No Attraction

"When he told me he fell out of love with me and wasn't attracted to me." — Caren C.

11
He Hit Me
Unsplash | Benjamin Combs

He Hit Me

"When he put his hands on me." — Heather W.

12
Lost Respect
Unsplash | Alex Iby

Lost Respect

"When I lost respect for him." — Maureen B.

13
College Money . . . Poof!
Unsplash | Jonathan Daniels

College Money . . . Poof!

"When he spent the kids' college money." — Jean B.

15
Gambling Problem
Unsplash | Michał Parzuchowski

Gambling Problem

"He was gambling every day while I was pregnant with our second child and supporting him through grad school." — Lauren S.

16
In Rehab Hunting For Another Woman
Unsplash | Osama Saeed

In Rehab Hunting For Another Woman

"When I found out he was trolling for another woman the entire time he was in rehab!" — Jess G.

17
Cringed at His Touch
Unsplash | Dev Benjamin

Cringed at His Touch

"When I cringed at his touch." — Jennifer R.

18
STD
Unsplash | Timothy Paul Smith

STD

"When he gave me an STD." — Adrianna D.

19
Bad Character
Unsplash | Tim Marshall

Bad Character

"When he said his motto was 'deny it to the end.'" — Dawn A.

20
Control Freak
Unsplash | Aldo Delara

Control Freak

"When he accused me of cheating on him when I was texting a girlfriend from work . . . on my birthday." — Dana D.

22
Hiding Assets
Unsplash | Fabian Blank

Hiding Assets

"When I discovered he was hiding assets and income under phony trusts, including my car that I drove and the house that I live in . . . " — Laura L.

23
Begging to Love Me
Unsplash | Jeremiah Higgins

Begging to Love Me

"When I found myself begging him to love me." — Angela A.

24
No Interest in Our Baby
Unsplash | Chiến Phạm

No Interest in Our Baby

"When he wouldn't hold our newborn daughter." — Sara D.

25
Caught Him With Cocaine
Unsplash | Elti Meshau

Caught Him With Cocaine

"When I caught him red-handed with cocaine." — Christy T.

26
Abandoned Us
Unsplash | Echo Grid

Abandoned Us

"When he just left us and didn't come back." — Hannah R.

27
Absent During Our Pregnancy
Unsplash | freestocks.org

Absent During Our Pregnancy

"When he wasn't around during our pregnancy and when he was, he was mean and abusive." — Lisa G.

28
Cheating With a Younger Woman
Unsplash | Mike Wilson

Cheating With a Younger Woman

"When I caught him with a younger woman." — Cindy B.

29
His Drug Problem
Unsplash | pina messina

His Drug Problem

"When I discovered him doing drugs." — Melissa A.

30
Son Won't Be Like Dad
Unsplash | Jared Sluyter

Son Won't Be Like Dad

"When my 6-year-old son said he would never treat his wife the way his dad treats me." — Dena L.