I'm so sorry you're going through this. I had a similar experience—after 18 years of marriage, we had a fight, and she told me she had repressed feelings. Just like that, it was over. No discussion, no space to explore it together—just, "I need this marriage to end so I can figure out what this repression means."
My wife seems to be carrying a lot of shame and guilt—but honestly, I think a lot of it is ego protection. She’s adamant that we not tell our families or even our children about her sexuality. She says it’s not the right time, or there’s “nothing to talk about yet,” but to me, it feels like avoidance and image control.Being blindsided has been the hardest part. She's clearly been checked out for years, and she’s just… ready to move on. I told her she needs to give me time. I've had a month to process. By her own admission, she’s known for at least 10 years.I really feel for your daughter (and for you). At first, my wife said she only wanted a studio apartment and had no plans for the kids to stay over. I pushed back hard—how would that make the kids feel, knowing she didn’t even make space for them? I suggested they could help her choose furniture, so the space would feel like theirs too. She said maybe—but then added that after so many years living with others, she needed a place that “reflected her.”
It’s those kinds of comments that gut me. It’s not just the role of wife she wants to leave behind—it’s the role of mother, too. And when I call her on it, she often denies ever saying those things. Thank god my therapist has me journaling. I go back and read entries to remind myself: no, I didn’t misinterpret this. She really did say it. It’s been a lifeline when the narrative keeps shifting.
My heart breaks for you and your daughter. You’re not alone in this.