I’m having more fun than ever before since leaving my marriage but family is judging me

DEAR DEIDRE: AFTER making the decision to leave my marriage, my life has never been better.

I’m having sex with a different man every other weekend and having more fun than ever before.

Learning my husband was cheating was upsetting but I decided it was my opportunity to start again.

I couldn’t be happier, but the judgment of my family is making me rethink everything.

I’m 36, my ex-husband is 39, and we were married for seven years and have two daughters, aged eight and four.

Getting married and having kids was never something I wanted for myself. I had always envisioned myself travelling the world and being the cool aunt.

However, I accidentally got pregnant and everything changed.

My then boyfriend managed to sway me to keep the baby, and while I love my daughter unconditionally, even then I knew I was unhappy.

Somehow I allowed myself to be swept along. Now, after years of feeling unfulfilled in my life and suffocated in my marriage, I finally decided to make the break.

We share access to the children equally which means I have the first half of the week to myself and every other weekend.

I take full advantage of my child-free days. I party hard and enjoy flings with younger men, I’ve never felt more alive.

I still see the kids regularly and pick them up from school.

Still, my family keeps telling me a child should be with its mum. They tut when I talk about going out.

My dad even accused me of having a midlife crisis. They are making me question myself.

The last thing I want is to be an absent parent, but surely I deserve to be happy?

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DEIDRE SAYS: While leaving your husband was a huge life change for you, it’s clear you’re finally putting yourself and your own happiness first.

The most important thing is you and your ex manage to co-parent amicably.

If you are giving your children a loving and supportive home, ultimately the opinions of others are simply not important.

It can be hard not to take what those around us say to heart, but with time, I’m sure they’ll adjust to your new reality.

If you’re struggling to deal with your emotions, onlymums.org can provide you with support. It’s an organisation that helps women navigate separations.