having just gone thru a prottracted period of being care giver for my wife,I'm happy that she's finally at rest
Some peopel aren't meant for long term re;ationships. What a little cutie pie, we haven't had a puppy for many years, it's always adopted orphan dogs,I love the smell of the little pups, and also miss equine, love their smell too.
Well, like I often think and say: "There are those that should be with someone, as in girlfriend/boyfriend or marriage, and those that definitely shouldn't be." Actually, that statement is in Self-Help books and brought up by professionals at a counseling session. My BIL, wife's brother, is exactly that way. He's never been married, is now 72 years old. My wife and I had one thing extremely in-common, we both were very, very marriage minded. And, on top of that, we've both been married twice before. In fact, I was divorced/single for 21 years and absolutely hated it. Really.
Hubby is like Dick Clark, he ages very well, first time I saw him was 1978 I was tending bar, he came up to the bar said, 'your beautiful' which I replied I already have 3 kids don't need another one and let me see your id. He stalked me for months, I'm glad he was so 'persistent'.
Well, there are those men and women that keep choosing the wrong partner for whatever reasons. Or, there are those that keep seeing relationships go bad and say to themselves, "no way for me". One thing for sure, a marriage takes work and any couple that say "my marriage is perfect", well, nobody ever knows what goes on behind closed doors! There are couples that can hide problems, some serious ones also, extremely well.
And sometimes its the little things that drive you away, maybe because we are too quick to give up? My first was the worst, my last is the best. Even if he does drive me crazy now and then. I've always been a little crazy anyway. 
If, when he said "your beautiful", he was being truthful, not drunk, you could have said "thank you". I really don't know what "I already have 3 kids and don't need another" was being quite sarcastic for whatever reason. He was telling you what he saw in you, without knowing what your past was like, but, most likely, would've thought about your personality. I'm very glad he was "persistent", because that's the way I was with my wife after meeting her. Actually, years and years ago, I met a lady at a nightclub and was going to ask her out. She must've had a feeling of that, because before I even asked her, she told me "you can't afford me". And, pretty much, she was very right. I thanked her for her honesty, we dance once and that was that.
He couldn't ' afford 'me either considering all the baggage that came with me. But he has always been a hard worker and we made it.
And what about those who believe they are making right choice and then life and marriage sets in and stuff can happen.. Many cheat and never get caught, and some get caught and some "overlook" the cheating to continue to be "kept". Thinking of friends I have, he's gone now, but what a womanizer. She knew but too fearful to get out...she could have taken him to the cleaners... My daughter believed her choice was the right one,and knew he liked his booze but overlooked that, and then into the marriage the "porn" addiction reared it's ugly head. Tough marriage for her, ended up with some health issues and so did he but he's gone at 55 yrs of age.....
My wife told me she was physically attracted to her second husband aka was "cute". When they first met, he gave her son some quarters to play games with. They got married in Vegas, with only her son and mom at the wedding. He was a heavy smoker, so she to use her inhaler often. And, he's drinking was way, way over the line. He even got a DUI and sentence to County Jail for a few months. Then, one time, he got mad over something and slightly pushed her down a few steps of stairs. She was fine, but that "push" ended the marriage. He wanted her back, but "absolutely not" she told him. He wound up overdosing/dying over pills he took.
Like, when domestic abuse happens between a husband and wife. Law enforcement is called. Years ago, the wife had to press charges to have the husband arrested. But, once the handcuffs were on, the wife thought about losing his income, especially if she was a stay-at-home mom, and reversed her decision to have him arrested. So, the cuffs came off and officers leave. I think today, if there is any sign of abuse on either party, one of them are arrested automatically. If not physical sign/signs, it will be up to the person that was assaulted.
My first husband and I had everything in common. Second time around we had nothing in common but we had commitment. Till death do us part meant something. It was a contract. I remember Dave's mom talking to me. She came from a farming community and it was generally frowned upon to get a divorce. Probably a sin. She came to me and said that I should be grateful for Dave, The reason? He would never beat me. She remembered stories of people who had no where to go if there was a marital problem. Well, I said, it is a good thing Dave would never beat me because if he, he could never go to sleep. She was surprised that I would say such a thing. But I knew where the airport was and my folks. I'm not that countryfied.
@Mary Stetler -- my motto has always been "Go Ahead and Hit Me. You have to Sleep Sometime." (Not that I ever had to worry about being hit, but I know people who do and it pisses me off that they take that.) When I met my husband, he had a toddler hanging on each leg and a baby in his arms. I said, "that's the man for me." (not) His wife just packed up and left them all; he was Mr. Mom for over a year with an 18 month old, a 3 and a 4 year old when we met. I had two little boys of my own so it turned out being "yours, mine, and let's not bother with "ours." Five little ones was more than enough but we made it.
When I make decisions, I put a lot of thought and effort into the process then stick by it. When I met my wife-to-be, I was in my upper 20s and just figured I would be single and travel the world, but after a lot of pondering, I changed my mind and persuaded her as well. A couple years later we married and have been together 45+ years so far. As an aside, I met a guy here who was travelling by Alaska ferry when a woman boarded with a King salmon over her shoulder. He decided then and there that she was the one for him, and, after some pursuit and persuasion, talked her into marrying him and they are still together 30+ years later.