Welcome to our weekly series of ‘link-up’ Posts which reflect on life’s journey, old memories and family stories (see below for more info).
A sombre subject for this week, but I know I am not alone.
Don’t worry, this is not a tale of woe and depression, but a reflection on an episode in my life which I am thankfully now able to look back upon and talk about.
The worst part? Laying next to my 5 year old son in his bed and holding him while he cried for his dad who was ‘all alone’. Utterly heart-wrenching.
The best part (if there can be such a thing)? The fact that my ex-husband can sit in my lounge with us both, along with my new husband & family and drink a cup of tea. It took a long time.
My son will, perhaps ironically, be a better person for this never-inflict-on-your-worst-enemy experience; he now has a deeper, more attentive relationship with his father due to their one-on-one time, and he has a second safety blanket in the form of a loving step-father. These men are polar opposites. His Yin and Yang perhaps. He also has a half brother (although this has turned out to be a bit like wanting a puppy…..you beg for one for two years and then when you finally get one you tease it until it cries. Can’t win ‘em all, I guess).
There is no escaping the traumatic nature of what we have endured as a family, but the facts are these – we have emerged (by the skin of our teeth) from the other side of divorce in one piece, united by the love for our child. We are friends (just about) and can finally wish each other well.
Maybe you’ve ‘been there’ too? I feel that this is such a major event in my life to date that it is worthy of a page or ten in my family stories. I owe my son the full story one day. If you feel up to sharing yours, post it here in our Linky, in the name of therapy….
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