Married women reported several unexpected difficulties in marriage. Many expressed feelings of emotional exhaustion from carrying the burden of household responsibilities while their husbands remained uninvolved. Others reflected on the regret of marrying the wrong partner and the impact of aging on relationships. Some mentioned the loss of alone time, especially after retirement, highlighting the need for personal space. Overall, these insights reveal the complex challenges women navigate in their marriages, including labor distribution, personal fulfillment, and the realities of growing older together.
"Carrying the burden. Men are not raised to raise a family, do housework, or pay attention to anyone else's needs. They are raised to believe that all they have to do is work and then come home and do nothing. I work two jobs, have raised two children, do literally everything in the house, and it's mentally exhausting." - amandaharris1
"When you marry the wrong man and don't realize it for 38 years. I sometimes wonder what I would have done with all those years if I'd walked a different path." - momsequitur
"Never being alone. My husband traveled for work, averaging one week per month. Then, he retired, and I'm never alone for more than an hour or two. I didn't realize how much I needed alone time." - superchicken44
"The hardest part: age. Second marriage for us both. We are older adults, having met as we both retired. Now that we're married, we're facing going from a hot relationship to age-related issues with health." - bubblytrout185
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