20 Women Share What The Final Straw Was That Made Them End An Unbalanced Relationship
Women share what made them open their eyes to an unbalanced relationship that they needed to end.
Independently testedUnbiased Demilked scoreFree to implementTools included
Making a relationship work requires partnership and compromise to a great degree. This is a necessity on behalf of both parties involved in the affair and when one partner is lacking, it can take a significant toll on the other person.
“Women who took on the load of a relationship: what was your lightbulb moment it was time to end the relationship?” One Redditor sparked an interesting discussion online when they asked the ladies a targeted question asking what were the indications that made them aware of the one-sided nature of their specific relationships that brought it to an end.
More info: Reddit
Image source: companion86, Ben Mack
When his dad asked me why I was staying with such an AH when I wasn’t even related to him. “You don’t owe him anything. Neither do we but he’s our son.” It made me realize I’d been waiting for permission to leave the whole time…
Image source: mickdunnafin, Chris F
I quit drinking and realized I hated him
Image source: squatter_, Zen Chung
When he slapped me during a disagreement.
I was not going to support his a** after that.
Image source: chronicpzzapain, Clara
When he sat me down after a long day (of me working 2 jobs, going to school and raising our child) to tell me about how I'm not meeting his "needs"
Image source: uglylittletroll, EVG Kowalievska
When I came home from work he was laying on the sofa playing video games.(He was unemployed at the time.) Dishes in the sink, the bed wasn't made, the house was a mess. He didn't even lift his head to greet me
Image source: Auspicious_Phoenix , cottonbro studio
He likes to say he is the man and I need to do as he says. He said this to me when I was practically begging him to help me around the house. He's the man of the house even when I pay for 100% daycare, 100% utilities, 100% groceries and half our rent and took care of our kids, the pets, cleaning and cooking. Sadly, it wasn't that or the abuse or the cheating that woke me up. It was my kid telling me we can make it without him. We never looked back after that.
Image source: EnvironmentalAd3673, Burak The Weekender
When he screamed at me for leaving a light on while he was sleeping, two days after I had brain surgery and was still on some very strong painkillers. The best decision I ever made was leaving him.
Image source: pbd1996, Monstera
It occurred to me one day that there would be no relationship if I stopped trying. I was doing 100% and he was doing 0%. So one day, I just stopped everything. We didn’t have a final conversation or anything at all. I just stopped talking to him and we never talked again. It was a 4 year relationship.
Image source: Intrepid_Plan_5202, Mengliu Di
When he didn’t show up while I was hospitalized pregnant with our baby. When he didn’t show up to the NICU. When he wouldn’t even bother to wake up on a Saturday to spend time with me. I’m in it still but I want out
Image source: SugarBabyWannabe, Armin Rimoldi
Oh hell, mine was the moment back in 2010 when he called his mom on the phone and ask if he could go live with her. He didn't mention if WE (myself and our 5 year old son) could also live with her. I had to ask him very out loud (so she could hear me) "What about us??!" Then he changed it to, "Oh yeah and them too". I knew then love was no longer a thing between us and I'd fallen out of love at that very moment.
Image source: dizzea, Keira Burton
He called me a " cnt" , after he lost his job again, did nothing for 3 weeks while I worked 150h with 2 days off imbetween, cleaned , made food , paid all the bills for nearly 5 years .. he called me a cnt, cause I was a bit in a mood after I finished my 11h shift and came home to him scrolling through fb and the house a mess. I decided I wasted 5 years on him, how many more years am I ready to waste ? Decided that none .. been single for more than a year now and I've never been happier with myself and my life
Image source: insertcaffeine , Andrea Piacquadio
When I started to look forward to his business trips, because everything was so much easier and more pleasant when he was gone. I was only cleaning up after myself and an infant! (Which, that sucks in and of itself, but...) There was no second adult making messes and waking me up in the middle of the night to pester me for sex.
I got the idea, this could be every day.
I made it happen. And then the baby was the only one waking me up, because that's what babies do
Image source: Royal_Right, Alexandra
It just…stopped. I had no more mental energy. We were living in a somewhat ‘fundamentalist Christian’ community and I had no support as a wife or a woman. I reached out for help and no one was there. I [wanted to hurt myself]. It was oddly enough his boss telling me that I had to be a better wife or leave today. I left that day.
Image source: Cultural-Chart3023, cottonbro studio
My husband was gone for a few days and the kids and i didn't even notice lol
Image source: Femaleharper, RDNE Stock project
When he spent daycare money on cigarettes. Our rule was diapers first, even if it meant we ate ramen a few times a week. I scrubbed toilets to cover rent when he lost his jobs. This was after 7 years of me doing 99% anyways, but once I couldn't make up for his deficiency and it impacted my ability to care for our kids, that was the lightbulb.
Been almost 4 years. Best choice I ever made.
Image source: justrainalready, Hadi Slash
When he punched out my rear view mirror while I was driving because I asked how his job search was going.
Image source: WhoGotSnacks, Karolina Grabowska
When I had suffered through 1.5 years of post-partum depression without realizing it, and I was sitting on the couch with our child sleeping in my arms, and I was sobbing to my then-husband, saying "Something is wrong with me. I need help. I can't do this alone."
He didn't even look up from his phone. He just kept scrolling and flatly said, "I already raised my kids. This one is yours."
Stayed with him 8.5 more years for a total of 12.
Finally out now, tho!
Image source: anonanonanonanana, Julia Volk
He asked me to look up nonprofits to dedicate my time and his money to in the future, despite the fact that I was the breadwinner at the time and he knew very well that I had lofty professional goals. He automatically assumed that I would assume a housewife role and abandon all of my goals to cater to his career. Turns out we weren’t on the same page and he didn’t like that.
Thankfully, I’m with a supportive partner who sees me as his equal and am well on my way to actualizing those goals.
Image source: Historical_Panic_465, Pixabay
When I started looking forward to him LEAVING the house. It felt like a weight off my chest whenever he was gone
Image source: scubagirl44, Karolina Grabowska
I kept going to take a shower and realizing I already had. The only time I had a minute to myself was in the shower. It was like working two full time jobs. Worked all day in the office to drive home to do house work/child care until bed. I would wake up hating life. Now I'm single and so much happier.
#1
Image source: companion86, Ben Mack
When his dad asked me why I was staying with such an AH when I wasn’t even related to him. “You don’t owe him anything. Neither do we but he’s our son.” It made me realize I’d been waiting for permission to leave the whole time…
#2
Image source: mickdunnafin, Chris F
I quit drinking and realized I hated him
#3
Image source: squatter_, Zen Chung
When he slapped me during a disagreement.
I was not going to support his a** after that.
#4
Image source: chronicpzzapain, Clara
When he sat me down after a long day (of me working 2 jobs, going to school and raising our child) to tell me about how I'm not meeting his "needs"
#5
Image source: uglylittletroll, EVG Kowalievska
When I came home from work he was laying on the sofa playing video games.(He was unemployed at the time.) Dishes in the sink, the bed wasn't made, the house was a mess. He didn't even lift his head to greet me
#6
Image source: Auspicious_Phoenix , cottonbro studio
He likes to say he is the man and I need to do as he says. He said this to me when I was practically begging him to help me around the house. He's the man of the house even when I pay for 100% daycare, 100% utilities, 100% groceries and half our rent and took care of our kids, the pets, cleaning and cooking. Sadly, it wasn't that or the abuse or the cheating that woke me up. It was my kid telling me we can make it without him. We never looked back after that.
#7
Image source: EnvironmentalAd3673, Burak The Weekender
When he screamed at me for leaving a light on while he was sleeping, two days after I had brain surgery and was still on some very strong painkillers. The best decision I ever made was leaving him.
#8
Image source: pbd1996, Monstera
It occurred to me one day that there would be no relationship if I stopped trying. I was doing 100% and he was doing 0%. So one day, I just stopped everything. We didn’t have a final conversation or anything at all. I just stopped talking to him and we never talked again. It was a 4 year relationship.
#9
Image source: Intrepid_Plan_5202, Mengliu Di
When he didn’t show up while I was hospitalized pregnant with our baby. When he didn’t show up to the NICU. When he wouldn’t even bother to wake up on a Saturday to spend time with me. I’m in it still but I want out
#10
Image source: SugarBabyWannabe, Armin Rimoldi
Oh hell, mine was the moment back in 2010 when he called his mom on the phone and ask if he could go live with her. He didn't mention if WE (myself and our 5 year old son) could also live with her. I had to ask him very out loud (so she could hear me) "What about us??!" Then he changed it to, "Oh yeah and them too". I knew then love was no longer a thing between us and I'd fallen out of love at that very moment.
#11
Image source: dizzea, Keira Burton
He called me a " cnt" , after he lost his job again, did nothing for 3 weeks while I worked 150h with 2 days off imbetween, cleaned , made food , paid all the bills for nearly 5 years .. he called me a cnt, cause I was a bit in a mood after I finished my 11h shift and came home to him scrolling through fb and the house a mess. I decided I wasted 5 years on him, how many more years am I ready to waste ? Decided that none .. been single for more than a year now and I've never been happier with myself and my life
#12
Image source: insertcaffeine , Andrea Piacquadio
When I started to look forward to his business trips, because everything was so much easier and more pleasant when he was gone. I was only cleaning up after myself and an infant! (Which, that sucks in and of itself, but...) There was no second adult making messes and waking me up in the middle of the night to pester me for sex.
I got the idea, this could be every day.
I made it happen. And then the baby was the only one waking me up, because that's what babies do
#13
Image source: Royal_Right, Alexandra
It just…stopped. I had no more mental energy. We were living in a somewhat ‘fundamentalist Christian’ community and I had no support as a wife or a woman. I reached out for help and no one was there. I [wanted to hurt myself]. It was oddly enough his boss telling me that I had to be a better wife or leave today. I left that day.
#14
Image source: Cultural-Chart3023, cottonbro studio
My husband was gone for a few days and the kids and i didn't even notice lol
#15
Image source: Femaleharper, RDNE Stock project
When he spent daycare money on cigarettes. Our rule was diapers first, even if it meant we ate ramen a few times a week. I scrubbed toilets to cover rent when he lost his jobs. This was after 7 years of me doing 99% anyways, but once I couldn't make up for his deficiency and it impacted my ability to care for our kids, that was the lightbulb.
Been almost 4 years. Best choice I ever made.
#16
Image source: justrainalready, Hadi Slash
When he punched out my rear view mirror while I was driving because I asked how his job search was going.
#17
Image source: WhoGotSnacks, Karolina Grabowska
When I had suffered through 1.5 years of post-partum depression without realizing it, and I was sitting on the couch with our child sleeping in my arms, and I was sobbing to my then-husband, saying "Something is wrong with me. I need help. I can't do this alone."
He didn't even look up from his phone. He just kept scrolling and flatly said, "I already raised my kids. This one is yours."
Stayed with him 8.5 more years for a total of 12.
Finally out now, tho!
#18
Image source: anonanonanonanana, Julia Volk
He asked me to look up nonprofits to dedicate my time and his money to in the future, despite the fact that I was the breadwinner at the time and he knew very well that I had lofty professional goals. He automatically assumed that I would assume a housewife role and abandon all of my goals to cater to his career. Turns out we weren’t on the same page and he didn’t like that.
Thankfully, I’m with a supportive partner who sees me as his equal and am well on my way to actualizing those goals.
#19
Image source: Historical_Panic_465, Pixabay
When I started looking forward to him LEAVING the house. It felt like a weight off my chest whenever he was gone
#20
Image source: scubagirl44, Karolina Grabowska
I kept going to take a shower and realizing I already had. The only time I had a minute to myself was in the shower. It was like working two full time jobs. Worked all day in the office to drive home to do house work/child care until bed. I would wake up hating life. Now I'm single and so much happier.DE
Written by
Demilked Editorial
SaaS Review Specialist · Demilked
With 5+ years in the creator, entertainment, and publishing spaces, Demilked shortlists, reviews, and ranks leading tools that actually make your life easier.