"I don't have any money. I've been a homemaker for the past 20 years. I had low-paying jobs before that when my other kids were little, and I also watched my nieces and nephews. My youngest is 19, and my sister's kids are all in school. I wouldn't get any child support. I didn't go to college. I baked cookies and watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I need his health insurance for numerous issues."
"With him as the self-proclaimed breadwinner and me working in government/public service for loan forgiveness, it seemed logical we'd have to go where he could find a high-paying salary, even though neither of us really wanted to move. I stayed back with our kids and sold our house, which needed extensive renovation, while he rented a furnished apartment funded by his new company and played video games for a month."
"I spent countless hours researching where to buy our new house, only to be told I was being greedy for asking for a budget when his parents offered to help (but they refused to tell him how much they could contribute). It was terrible, and I wanted a divorce then, but I got pregnant with our third kid because the OB where we lived had refused to fill my Rx before we moved."
Financial insecurity and lack of employment options keep individuals in unhappy marriages. Long-term homemakers cite inability to afford independence, loss of child support, and dependence on a spouse's health insurance for chronic conditions. Career-related relocations for one partner can isolate the other, forcing childcare responsibilities, house selling, and temporary unemployment during licensing or job searches. Lack of appreciation, emotional neglect, and avoidance of conflict compound the decision to stay. Unexpected pregnancies and logistical barriers, like local medical refusals, can further delay separation and complicate plans to leave.
Read at BuzzFeed
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