I’ve been noticing more women celebrating being single and child-free — living on their own terms, traveling, finding joy in independence. I admire that. But as a woman in my fifties, married with grown children, I can’t help but wonder if there are still women who are genuinely happy in marriage.
I love my family deeply. My husband and I have built a life together — years of laughter, struggle, and growth. But there are moments when I sit with my thoughts and think about the woman I used to be before marriage, before motherhood. Sometimes I miss her.
Marriage isn’t unhappy, but it’s not always fulfilling either. It’s work — emotional, constant, and sometimes invisible. I don’t regret choosing family, but I do wonder if happiness in marriage looks different for each of us now.
— Karen, 53, Des Moines, IA
