As I believe I have mentioned before, there are times when I am drawn towards articles about relationships, especially after having been through divorce. At first, I read them to try to glean reasons why my past relationship ended in divorce. Then I read them when I began dating to learn more about beginning new relationships and to reset my expectations as I embraced dating as an adventure. But, eventually I wanted to come to a place in my life that I would be ready and wanting marriage with that right special person. I am hopeful for that with T~.
So, now the relationship articles that catch my eye are more about how to have loving, fulfilling long-term relationships. There was one, which of course I cannot find now, that was about the secrets of older couples and the common characteristics their relationships had. I want be married again, and when I do, I want it to last. But, as I read this article, I could not help but be reminded of my relationship with my previous husband. I felt sad because at some point I thought he was my best friend. Briefly, my feelings of grief returned with a faint longing of having hoped it would have worked. It is not at all that I want it back or him, it was more of a feeling of mourning something lost. I did not like these feelings or that I thought about my previous husband when reading the article.
After a few weeks, I decided that feelings get stirred up now and again. And more importantly, it takes time to build a foundation for a solid relationship with depth. It is more about knowing that I want that with T~, and that it will take time to get there. Life is not a race, but a journey and one that I want to share with T~. I have decided to focus on what I am thankful for in my relationship with T~ now and what I appreciate about him. He is loving, patient and kind. He pays attention and is thoughtful and sensitive. He makes me laugh and loves to surprise me. I am so thankful he is in my life! I hope I am doing the same for him so that he feels loved and supported, too.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Leading into Mother's Day
As the years pass, Mother's Day does get easier for me. I am still in that space in my life that a child could be a possibility. The acute pain is not as it was when I was actively trying to be a mother. The sorrow is more distant, somewhat of denial and somewhat of acceptance.
However, it feel like there is a greater presence in advertising for Mother's Day during the week leading into it this year. I could be wrong. But, there seems to be more news stories, advertisements on web pages, FB memes and pictures of Mother's Day teas. My plan is to avoid social media and the internet on Mother's Day, but I am finding myself having to ramp back earlier because the celebrating feels like it is extending into a week. It is good for people to express true gratitude for their moms. I just have mixed feelings. I am trying to balance protecting myself and not hiding from the world. It seems silly, selfish and sad to feel pain from expressions of love. I want to be happy for others, but I also don't want it all so much in my face.
I had a few tears when I picked out the card for my mom this year. She has been so supportive, loving and patient and I am so grateful for so wholly feeling her love. As the years pass, I become increasingly aware of my parents' mortality. They have some health issues, but they are managed for now. I cannot help but think that time is limited. It is limited just as much for me as much as it is for them, or more. If I ever get to a place of motherhood, will they be able to enjoy it? It is a question that lingers in my mind, especially as I see friends who are experiencing ill health and death with their parents.
However, it feel like there is a greater presence in advertising for Mother's Day during the week leading into it this year. I could be wrong. But, there seems to be more news stories, advertisements on web pages, FB memes and pictures of Mother's Day teas. My plan is to avoid social media and the internet on Mother's Day, but I am finding myself having to ramp back earlier because the celebrating feels like it is extending into a week. It is good for people to express true gratitude for their moms. I just have mixed feelings. I am trying to balance protecting myself and not hiding from the world. It seems silly, selfish and sad to feel pain from expressions of love. I want to be happy for others, but I also don't want it all so much in my face.
I had a few tears when I picked out the card for my mom this year. She has been so supportive, loving and patient and I am so grateful for so wholly feeling her love. As the years pass, I become increasingly aware of my parents' mortality. They have some health issues, but they are managed for now. I cannot help but think that time is limited. It is limited just as much for me as much as it is for them, or more. If I ever get to a place of motherhood, will they be able to enjoy it? It is a question that lingers in my mind, especially as I see friends who are experiencing ill health and death with their parents.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Twin Quiz
I confess, I am a junky when it comes to taking the personality quizzes you find on facebook. I rarely post my results, but I love taking them! Yes, I want to know what kind of house I should live in or which Disney princess I would be or which two words describe me. And just when I think, I am done with this silly, mindless time suck, there appears the next quiz to fill the hole of gaining more personal insights. Haha! I am such a sucker. :)
But, there was a quiz that gave me pause. At first, I was just going to pass on it. But, then I saw a guy friend post his results and thought what the heck? The quiz was called, "How Many Kids Are You Going to Have?"
I wasn't sure if I wanted to know the answer because I was a little afraid it would say "zero." Then, I went back to my friend's results and his comment. He is single and got "one" and made a hopeful remark that sounds about right and that he hopes to meet a good woman someday. It struck me as simple, honest and sweet. So, I took the quiz.
My result was "twins." The blurb said something about two for the price of one--in maybe wanting one pregnancy, but being blessed with two. It made me smile.
As I am getting older, I find that I am changing my thoughts on family building. When I was younger and in my twenties, I daydreamed of having four to six kids. Over time, that number is decreasing. It is in part because of practical reasons, time and managing expectations. But, it is also in part with wanting less, to simplify things in life--like having a smaller home, less things. My mind has been shifting towards thinking that maybe one child is all that I would want--to be able to devote more attention, time and resources towards them. But, getting the result of twins makes me happy because maybe deep down I still do want more than one child. There is also something very special about twins. It speaks to me somehow.
The quiz gives me hope. It is not too late. It is validating in that it is okay to still playfully dream of a child. That I am still deserving to be a mother, maybe someday.
But, there was a quiz that gave me pause. At first, I was just going to pass on it. But, then I saw a guy friend post his results and thought what the heck? The quiz was called, "How Many Kids Are You Going to Have?"
I wasn't sure if I wanted to know the answer because I was a little afraid it would say "zero." Then, I went back to my friend's results and his comment. He is single and got "one" and made a hopeful remark that sounds about right and that he hopes to meet a good woman someday. It struck me as simple, honest and sweet. So, I took the quiz.
My result was "twins." The blurb said something about two for the price of one--in maybe wanting one pregnancy, but being blessed with two. It made me smile.
As I am getting older, I find that I am changing my thoughts on family building. When I was younger and in my twenties, I daydreamed of having four to six kids. Over time, that number is decreasing. It is in part because of practical reasons, time and managing expectations. But, it is also in part with wanting less, to simplify things in life--like having a smaller home, less things. My mind has been shifting towards thinking that maybe one child is all that I would want--to be able to devote more attention, time and resources towards them. But, getting the result of twins makes me happy because maybe deep down I still do want more than one child. There is also something very special about twins. It speaks to me somehow.
The quiz gives me hope. It is not too late. It is validating in that it is okay to still playfully dream of a child. That I am still deserving to be a mother, maybe someday.
Friday, May 2, 2014
My Stuff
When T~ asked me to move in with him, I was over the moon happy. I still am. :) Things were progressing in our relationship and I was hopeful that was where we were going next in our relationship. When things changed with my job, I was afraid that would be derailed. It was not and it actually bumped up the time frame. And we were good with that. I felt so loved and thrilled and couldn't wait to move and be done with it. In fact, from the day T~ asked me to move in with him, we spent every night together. The move was slow and took two months, but we were living together from day one. I am so thankful that it went the way it did.
T~ and I were both sad that the whole moving in together didn't go as we once imagined. When we initially tossed around the idea, our intent was to move into a new place together. A fresh start for both of us in this new chapter. But, things didn't go that way, and I moved into his place. T~ has made every effort to make the apartment feel like our place. We have a good balance of each person's furniture and decorative things. The rest is in storage in a garage where we live.
Somewhat secretly, I felt very relieved that we have a place to store extra things. I know stuff is just stuff and it doesn't really matter. Stuff can be replaced. But, I was so glad that we didn't have to sort through and decide what stays and what goes in order to condense things down. As much as I have been wanting to move in with T~, I am not ready to give up some of my stuff.
My stuff is kind of like a security blanket. I'm scared sometimes. I was married once and thought it was going to last and it didn't. I've been hurt before and it took a long time for me to be where I am. I have the stuff I need to live independently and comfortably. I am afraid to get rid of any of it for fear of something similar happening. I don't want to have to build that up again, especially since I feel like I am so far behind in life.
It is not that I have doubts in my relationship with T~. It is just that I know how awful it can be to have your life turned upside down, ripped apart and shattered when it was the farthest thing from your mind and that it all happened so fast. I am afraid of that happening again. When you have been burned before, you know how bad it can be and want to avoid that kind of hurt again.
There have been times that I felt silly or badly about wanting to hold onto my stuff. I don't feel like it is about having doubts in the relationship. It may be more like doubts in believing in my own judgement or that I deserve to be happy. Sometimes I am afraid of the good things in my life, only to have them taken away. I am afraid of getting too comfortable.
I know some of these feelings are normal, as I read similar things from another blogger who divorced and remarried. She was lucky to have a partner who was patient and understanding and let her hold onto her extra stuff. I think it takes a kind, selfless person to know it is not about them and to allow the other person to get there in the time they need on their own.
But, eventually if I want a more permanent life with T~, I will have to let go of some of my stuff. It is silly to keep it all. Fortunately, T~ is patient and understanding. There is no rush to narrow things down. So, I can hold onto my stuff for now until I can build enough trust that one day I will be able to do it.
T~ and I were both sad that the whole moving in together didn't go as we once imagined. When we initially tossed around the idea, our intent was to move into a new place together. A fresh start for both of us in this new chapter. But, things didn't go that way, and I moved into his place. T~ has made every effort to make the apartment feel like our place. We have a good balance of each person's furniture and decorative things. The rest is in storage in a garage where we live.
Somewhat secretly, I felt very relieved that we have a place to store extra things. I know stuff is just stuff and it doesn't really matter. Stuff can be replaced. But, I was so glad that we didn't have to sort through and decide what stays and what goes in order to condense things down. As much as I have been wanting to move in with T~, I am not ready to give up some of my stuff.
My stuff is kind of like a security blanket. I'm scared sometimes. I was married once and thought it was going to last and it didn't. I've been hurt before and it took a long time for me to be where I am. I have the stuff I need to live independently and comfortably. I am afraid to get rid of any of it for fear of something similar happening. I don't want to have to build that up again, especially since I feel like I am so far behind in life.
It is not that I have doubts in my relationship with T~. It is just that I know how awful it can be to have your life turned upside down, ripped apart and shattered when it was the farthest thing from your mind and that it all happened so fast. I am afraid of that happening again. When you have been burned before, you know how bad it can be and want to avoid that kind of hurt again.
There have been times that I felt silly or badly about wanting to hold onto my stuff. I don't feel like it is about having doubts in the relationship. It may be more like doubts in believing in my own judgement or that I deserve to be happy. Sometimes I am afraid of the good things in my life, only to have them taken away. I am afraid of getting too comfortable.
I know some of these feelings are normal, as I read similar things from another blogger who divorced and remarried. She was lucky to have a partner who was patient and understanding and let her hold onto her extra stuff. I think it takes a kind, selfless person to know it is not about them and to allow the other person to get there in the time they need on their own.
But, eventually if I want a more permanent life with T~, I will have to let go of some of my stuff. It is silly to keep it all. Fortunately, T~ is patient and understanding. There is no rush to narrow things down. So, I can hold onto my stuff for now until I can build enough trust that one day I will be able to do it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)