I can totally agree with this one! i was a stepfather and if im totally honest a bloody good boyfriend (although she didnt quite agree at times, in here rages
)for 2 years.
in that time i totally adjusted to life as a parent and man of the house. i really did love the feeling of having responsibility and people look up to me along with me being there to care and help for people i loved for. it was certainly one of the hooks that kept me in way longer then i ever should of been in the relationship, all at the tender age of 20 to 22,
duh!
Just the other day life gave me another light bulb about this very topic. i moved into my new house in australia, at first i was really happy. but soon after i felt quite empty and cold. it was weird not having someone to "love" that i would live with, even after having succesfuly lived with two dear friends for a year and a half.
i think one of the massive losses we feel after the breakup (in my case anyway), is that we base so much of our time and emotional and physical energy on these partners that we cant face losing the time invested and/or status we acheived during the relationship.
i have learnt that although at first it may seem like a waste of time, energy and strength we have learnt alot more about ourselves and other people that we would have NEVER EVER had the chance to before.
Its these kind of positive thoughts thst keep me from being bitter about what i could potentially view the relationship as being a waste of time and youth.