How many married professionals with young families are just sticking it out “for the kids”? Marriage is very dead and has been for a while. Young kids 4 and 1. My wife and I don’t fight, but share 0 interests outside of the kids and can’t stand to be around each other. I’m so ready to leave… I just can’t bear the thought of doing it to my children even though another part of me feels like wife and I would both be better parents if our lives were separate. Anyone else done a similar analysis?

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Just wondering if you can give some more background information….. you are really in the thick of things parenting wise with such young kids that connecting with a spouse on a couples level can be really challenging and can take a lot of hard work. Have you both tried working to improve your marriage and reconnect - couples therapy, date nights, short trips away from kids, or otherwise? How was your marriage before kids and how long have you been married?

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Things get soooo much better after all kids are 2.5 years or older. Hang in there. Pay for more childcare if you can afford it so there’s more time to connect. Spend time with friends and family, solo if necessary. Kids are draining and it’s nearly impossible to focus on your marriage when they’re so little and demanding. You’re both getting the worst (and most sleep deprived and exhausted) versions of each other right now.

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It’s really hard to keep the flame alive when the kids are that little. Try to have more regular date nights and reconnect. Be patient. There’s a reason you got married and had two kids. You’re in the trenches right now.

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Couples counseling ASAP.

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Feel the same way

I feel the same way —my husband feels more like a friend—but I am hoping to wait it out as others have said and just hope it gets better once the kids are a bit older.

I’m so sorry you, the OP, and others are going through this. To clarify my response above, I’m not suggesting to “wait it out” and “hope it gets better.” From my perspective, the longer someone waits, the harder it gets to turn it around and the problem leads to other problems. Hope doesn’t usually work. My suggestion is to act as soon as possible to find a way or ways to reconnect.

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