Putting a beloved pet down, in very similar circumstances to 18:10.

Breaking up with someone who I knew would always treat me as though I was pure gold, but whom I didn't love enough.

Setting firm limits w/ a seriously dysfunctional family dynamic to save my sanity.

Saying goodbye for what I knew was likely to be the last visit with my best friend, who was terminally ill.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My most difficult decision by far was to decide whether to terminate a late second trimester pregnancy because of severe, but not necessarily fatal, congenital defects. 18 months after that decision I had a very healthy baby.

Holy crap. How did your doc explain that mistake?

Not pp, but I'm guessing pp terminated the pregnancy. And then 18 months later had another healthy baby.

To have a child on my own - single mom by choice style, not an 'oops, now what do I do' situation. Hardest but best decision of my life.

Anonymous wrote:My most difficult decision by far was to decide whether to terminate a late second trimester pregnancy because of severe, but not necessarily fatal, congenital defects. 18 months after that decision I had a very healthy baby.

Holy crap. How did your doc explain that mistake?

I spent my 20s living the good life in France. My job was ending and I had no prospects and did not want to go back to the US. I was despondent. Then suddenly not one but two offers materialized: the first was for a super-high paying, long-lasting, non-teaching job at an international organization in Geneva, the second was teaching French at the American school in Rome for one year for a maternity leave replacement. I had never lived in Italy but had studied Italian and wanted to improve it. I saw that as the bold, adventurous choice. I had been in France for a number of years, spoke French well and would be able to continue to live in France with the first offer. The location was only two hours away from where I was then living. I saw that as the safe choice. In the end I went with the money. It was a grown-up job. I bought a car. It was a beautiful area. I had a great time. I don't regret my choice at all but often think about what kind of life I would have had had I picked the job in Rome.

Leaving my abusive ex. It seems like that should have been an easy decision but it took me 5 years to get there.

Whether or not to do IVF after years of infertility. Decided not to.

Whether or not to go aganst my mother's wishes and leave her on life support.

Putting my elderly dog down instead of spending the $3,000 on an emergency surgery that *might* have saved him. At the time, I felt like if I really loved him I should pay for the surgery, damn the cost. However, I couldn't justify the money given that it wasn't that likely to work and that we'd already paid several thousand over the preceding months on vet care that didn't help him. Now I realize I made the right call by letting him go, even if it was for money reasons at the time.

To not attempt reconciliation with my exw. She refused to return to therapy. She claimed she was cured. I lost my best friend ever forever.

My most difficult decision by far was to decide whether to terminate a late second trimester pregnancy because of severe, but not necessarily fatal, congenital defects. 18 months after that decision I had a very healthy baby.

Anonymous wrote:Some people have had to make extremely difficult decisions so I doubt you will get honest answers. Why would you care? Are you interested in the reasoning process that involves coming to a decision? Are you just interested in what others have had to face? Are you looking for outcomes that color those choices right or wrong? I'm just curious as to what prompts your interest.

I'm not sure why. I guess I like stories. I love podcasts, this American life, etc. I like reading some posts on this site and advice.

In regards to not getting honest answers -- this is a mostly anonymous site. People can share what they choose or slightly modify identifying details. If you don't like the post or the question, you don't need to answer it.

-OP

Joke answer: each time I let go of a guy at the rose ceremony. Each time progressively became the hardest decision I've ever made.

Really though? Deciding to have an elective CS. Potential health problem came up during first baby. On baby #2, I could have gone either way, and took me several months to agonize over it. I chose the CS.

Some people have had to make extremely difficult decisions so I doubt you will get honest answers. Why would you care? Are you interested in the reasoning process that involves coming to a decision? Are you just interested in what others have had to face? Are you looking for outcomes that color those choices right or wrong? I'm just curious as to what prompts your interest.

I thought this might be an interesting post. I haven't had to make many hard decisions in my life.

My answer would either be my relationship with my mother, including essentially making her go to therapy with me (I didn't phrase it that way, but said we needed to do it or I could not see her for a long time, which was 100% true).

Or it would be figuring out my relationship with my SO right now as we currently have to live on different continents. The latter is more of a never ending series of small decisions and anxieties. I am not well suited to a long distance relationship, but I love him.

What was the most difficult decision you've ever made?