Hi All,

Last year I got a woman I had been involved with on & off again for multiple years pregnant. The decision was made to keep the baby and she pressed for marriage which I finally agreed. At the time I had my hesitations but also felt incredibly pressured to get married because I wanted my child to come from a great home and happily married parents. I come from poverty & a very broken home with no parental figure outside of my grandmother so this had always been a dream of mine. I worked hard to make something of myself, provide for my family, own a home, and enable my wife to not work and raise our child.

without turning this into a rant about my relationship, we are at a point where divorce is a very real conversation and decision for both of us to make. I find myself waking up depressed everyday feeling trapped, controlled, & alone. I know I need to be the best version of myself for my child, however, the marriage has taken its toll and i’m struggling everyday. I’m no longer the man I used to be or know that I am.

I feel so scared to finally make the decision.. I feel like i’d be letting my younger self down and fail at my dreams of raising my child with happily married parents. I am entirely at a loss and am starting to lose hope. How do I find the courage to make the decision? I know the marriage should end but for a reason I can’t understand or explain I just can’t do it.

This probably sounds pathetic but any advice would be helpful as I don’t have any strong male figures to ask for advice.