--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember saying once to my friend…" description: "\"“I remember saying once to my friend Susan, when my marriage was becoming intolerable, \"I don't want my children growing up in a household like this.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/594/elizabeth-gilbert-131_children_i-remember-saying-once-to-my-friend-susa_2421203.jpg" --- # I remember saying once to my friend Susan, when my… ![“I remember saying once to my friend Susan, when my marriage was becoming intolerable, "I don't want my children growing up in a household like this." Susan said, "Why don't you leave those so-called children out of the discussion? They don't even exist yet. Why can't you just admit that you don't…” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/594/elizabeth-gilbert-131_children_i-remember-saying-once-to-my-friend-susa_2421203.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/594/elizabeth-gilbert-131_children_i-remember-saying-once-to-my-friend-susa_2421203.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/594/elizabeth-gilbert-131_children_i-remember-saying-once-to-my-friend-susa_2421203.jpg) > ““I remember saying once to my friend Susan, when my marriage was becoming intolerable, "I don't want my children growing up in a household like this." Susan said, "Why don't you leave those so-called children out of the discussion? They don't even exist yet. Why can't you just admit that you don't want to live in unhappiness anymore?”” [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker expresses a desire to escape an unhappy marriage for the sake of future children, highlighting the conflict between present suffering and imagined future responsibilities. **In simple terms:** Wanting to leave unhappiness for future kids. Key Takeaway Prioritize personal well‑being over imagined duties. Themes marriage parenthood happiness self‑care Mood conflicted hopeful Type advice reflective philosophical When to use this quote - divorce decisions - family planning - mental health counseling - relationship therapy Key Concepts existential choice future projection emotional honesty Questions to Reflect On - What does “future children” mean to you? - How can you honor both current pain and future hopes? A Different Perspective Future children cannot dictate present choices; sometimes staying may protect them. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) ## Related quotes > [“Peter, why do I get the idea that you are thinking of this as a golden opportunity for Peter Wiggin?” “For both of us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/peter-why-do-i-get-the-idea-that-you-are-thinking-of-this-as-a-golden/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“what was not a people may become a people; and she who did not obtain mercy may obtain mercy. 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