People Over 50 Share The Moment They Knew Their Marriage Was Over

Gray divorce — the term for splits that occur among folks over the age of 50 — has been on the rise for the last several decades.

In 1990, fewer than one in 10 Americans getting divorced were 50+ years old, according to a 2022 statistical analysis published in the Journal of Gerontology. In 2010, that number was one in four. By 2019, it was one in three.

Authors of the study believe this likely has to do with society’s increasing acceptance of divorce, as well as women having more financial and emotional independence.

“All these factors set the stage and make it more acceptable than a generation ago,” co-author Susan Brown told AARP.

We asked HuffPost readers who divorced after the age of 50 to share the moment they realized their marriage was over. Read their first-hand accounts below:

Responses have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

1. “Divorced at 61 after 29 years. He left my 50th birthday party to go home and get drunk but denied it. Eventually I could no longer pretend things were OK after years of unpredictable behavior, rage at the slightest remark, lies about finances, job-hopping until he retired without telling me. It felt like I couldn’t breathe. The truth? I wanted to be happy, and I wouldn’t be if I stayed married.” — Mary B.

2. “When I asked him if he was having another affair, and he said, ‘It’s none of your business.’” —Janelle R.

3. “I was 50, second marriage, diagnosed with breast cancer and husband said he couldn’t cope with that.” —Sharon P.

4. “Differences in future. I had a solid job she wanted me to stay in a few more years. I had a side venture that was working (and it did). The youngest kid was 18, so no child support needed. We’re still great friends but had to go