Monday, November 28, 2011

Embracing Happily Ever After

There are so many cliches about life.

The one I hear most frequently was immortalized by Tom Hanks and an awful southern drawl in Forrest Gump, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

While that is incredibly simple and insightful all at once, more often than not, it induces involuntary eyerolls and slight gag reflexes.

Each day we make our way through our own realities.

Some seem to glide through seamlessly, while others seem to stumble over hurdles along the way.

I, like many of you, have had my fair share of hurdles. And while it's easy to look back and list all of the things we'd like to change, I can honestly say I believe I am a better person for having lived through my experiences.

Recently, I have been somewhat absent from this space.

There are a number of reasons for that. Life gets busy, and we are forced to prioritize that which is most important.

In April, I went through an ugly break up with a man I dated for just over a year. He is a nice guy. He just wasn't the guy for me. For many months after the split, I felt I needed to censor my words. My safe place, Only Parent Chronicles, became not so safe any longer, and I had to separate myself from this outlet.

In September, a man I had been engaged to previously moved back to Minnesota and back into my life. We are once again planning our happily ever after. This decision makes my heart feel full. My children now have a father figure to see them through their teen years, and I have a partner.

Which leaves me struggling with my only parent status.

I believe that once a single/only parent, always a single/only parent. And while this space will be less talk of how I manage on my own, I hope that readers old and new can look back to my roots and realize that I have been through the fire. I have battled on the front lines, and I have lived life without reinforcements.

I am just now embracing my happily ever after.

10 comments:

Ducky said...

...and EVERYONE should be thoroughly THRILLED for you! Rare it seems these days that we find the "happily ever after". Many keep searching never realizing that maybe WE were sought out by the other and are actually someone's happily ever after :O) Ummm... that may be a little deep for the Duck this morning. I'm sans an adequate amount of coffee.

In Short... your followers that have been here for the long haul will be thrilled for you. If there is a "deserve" meter....you certainly top it for all that you have grown through. I look forward to the awesome posts of your new "WE" and the new adventures of your family. Its gonna be a great ride!!

XOXO

Andrea said...

Dude, I don't care what you call this space, so if you change the name as you don't know that it suits you, or if you stick with it - as you've described - because it DOES and IS you, then fine. Whatever, friend, whatever you want is what you will do with it and I'm here for the long haul. As Ducky said, I'm so happy that you're happy. We all go through ups and downs when it comes to blogging and we have to be who we be, right? xoxox Much love to you and yours! Always.

Mimi N said...

I'm so stinkin' happy for you! Life does change when we add a new dimension to our lives. I can't wait to see what direction your life goes!

~Meems

Queenie Jeannie said...

So happy for your happily ever after!!!!! Life changes. We change with it. Whether we want to or not, lol!

Good luck!

Cari said...

Our blogs, like life are continually changing. I think that it is important to show other single parents that there is a happy ever after! Many blessings on your new journey.

Kir said...

there are NO WORDS for how happy I am for you, for how I prayed and send good thoughts about this day for you, for you to smile and embrace your happily ever after. There is nothing about this that should make you feel like something else your past, your present, your future..ALL YOU. xoxoxo

grace said...

Post it tuesday is not yet up ? I am excited to submit my entry :

http://www.ourkidsturf.com/2011/11/my-gift-list-totaled-to.html

I missed this meme. Ill be glad to promote it to our blogger's group.

Raine said...

Yay for you!! and I agree once a single/only parent always a single/only parent. Unless it was just for a day or something ;)

Losing Brownies said...

I'm very excited for you. You may not have to do things on your own, but this is still your space, regardless of what you call it.

Babes Mami said...

Yay! Whoever chooses not to be happy for you wont be missed around here!

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