Hi there, reading your post I felt like I had written it myself.I am in a very similar situation. My relationship is half the time of yours, 7 years, and we do not have kids, but we do have two dogs that are just like kids to us. I honestly don’t have any advice to give you since I myself have been dealing with the same questions and doubts that you have. I guess I just wanted to let you know you are not alone and I absolutely understand the part that you say people dont understand cause they all get his “best” side. Its the same in my case. Our friends and the people around us think I’m justgoing through a phase and I will get over it. But the truth is I don’t think I love this person as my partner anymore. I love him as family, as part of my life, but not as a man. I wish there was a clear way to make a decision in this kind of situation…. I dont think we are asking for too much. I think we deserve to have that companion to experience life with…or maybe I’m just a hopeless dreamer…
Wish you the best