"I want to maintain the family unit because it makes other things possible, like doing things together with the children. But one day, when they are older and I can think about my own needs again, I may leave and start all over again.
I gotta give her a slight nod for that, at least she is thinking of her children.
She is a certain type of person, whom I have met before. These people are so unhappy in a situation, that they have to insist that ALL people in a similar situation are unhappy. That those of use who are NOT, are simply lying. Because for her, the thought that there ARE happy people makes her feel even worse. Denial ensues.
A couple of points. One, my wife and I are about the same age as her. While life has put us in a situation that has us both quite tired these days (kids, chronic illness, sickness), we can still shake the house, just not as often. Its quality over quantity for us.
Another thing, maybe this is a British thing? I mean, have you seen the men over there? (Just kidding, my Brit friends!)..
Actually, I have ... I'm happily married ... I restricted my 'extracurricular activities' to consuming mass quantities of beer.
But if I'd been of a mind to do so ... Brit chicks are seriously attractive ...
The men over there looked more or less like "white" guys anywhere.
Her children will feel betrayed if/when she leaves their father to find fulfillment. The stable monogamous foundation she thinks is so important for them will be revealed as a lie, and their mother as a thrill-seeker.
Of course, her husband may leave first, if he isn’t getting any at home, and he finds a woman who appreciates him better.
While I don't think it's a "Brit thing" my exwife was a Brit. Looking back it seemed like she worked towards sabotaging our relationship. I sometimes wondered if she was actually trying to push me to be unfaithful.
On top of everything else she seemed to want to be miserable. After living in the U.S. for a short time she announced that she hated Americans. Later; when we were living in Germany she decided she hated Germans. I had enough of her behavior and filed for a legal separation (pending divorce). I arranged for her and her property back to the U.K. A few weeks later I heard from her. She remarked that England no longer seemed like home and "she hated Brits."
Last I heard she moved back to the U.S.
I grew tired of the dating/hooking up scene very quickly. One of the reasons I had to end the marriage was the emptiness and I didn't want to trade one form of emptiness for another. I got involved with things that interested me that took me out of the house (that didn't involve heavy drinking and more "hook-ups"). I eventually met my current (and last) wife. Neither of us were "looking for someone." We just were fortunate.