It isn’t gone.

It mat never leave.

It PROBABLY won’t ever leave.

But the fog IS lifting.

The lifting of the fog comes with working together for a common goal.

it would have been a thousand time easier to have won each battle and just had my way.

It would have been so much easier. But not necessarily better.

Maybe couples would have to be kinder in the split and stop to think of other circumstances if they had been in situations like mine.

Being through years of years of cancer at Peyton’s side, through these years of strokes, coma, therapy, recovery, building, growing I have learned to never hesitate at TRUE HAPPINESS.

there is a difference between a GOOD TIME and TRUE HAPPINESS and you know them when you have them.

But I have also learned to basking in TRUE HAPPINESS does not mean ignoring the circumstances.

It really is as trite as that saying: EXPECT THE BEST BUT PLAN FOR THE WORSE.

Peter ans I don’t live in a theoretical world of single parenthood.

We live in it, VERY REAL, EVERY DAY.

We had to cool our jets, let go of our tempers and start working as the team we’ve always been.

Even though we can’t be a couple anymore, we still make one hell of a parenting team.

There is no easy way to separate something that was never intended to be separated.

We didn’t live our lives with the thought that someday we would have split it up.

Parents have an incredibly hard job.

Divorcing parents can make a hard job EVEN harder.

Under the constant strain, two parent can stand across from each other yelling about how much they love kids.

I LOVE THE KIDS MORE.

NO, I LOVE THEM MORE!

HOW COULD YOU LOVE THE KIDS MORE?

I.LOVE.THE.KIDS.

And while the two of you are arguing about that great parental love, who is loving those kids like they deserve?

Are the kids seeing seeing you fight about who loves them more?

Do they care?

Or are they just seeing Mommy and Daddy fight again?

Respecting my family, there are details that you just don’t need to know yet.

But you DO need to know that WE made the decision our kids will NEVER SEE IT AGAIN.

I could write this in a way that would get ME all the support and make Peter look like the enemy.

I could write this in a way that makes me look like a victim and make you feel sorry for for me.

But I just want to tell the truth.

My story.

My feelings.

MY DIVORCE.

Now, before you get all outraged on my behalf and “How could he do that and leave her like this?“, the divorce was MY decision.

It isn’t something that happened because of the strokes or handicap, it stems from issues that started years before I was in the wheelchair. Before Georgia. Before Peyton’s cancer.

There were little things that built and built with time and my priorities became protecting my kids and myself.

The kids know.

I wouldn’t think about telling any of you before telling them.

They’re hurting, but they also knew that something was wrong.

I feel so sorry to them to not be able to provide the home they deserve.

I HATE THAT.

Especially after what they’ve already been through.

But having been through what I have, overcoming the obstacles in my way, embracing my inner happiness….I owe it to myself.

If I DO have another stroke tomorrow, I want my kids to know that the price of happiness and fulfillment comes with a cost.  But it’s worth it.

*ANGELS REJOICE!*

This time of year means getting school supplies, clothes and the challenge of being a really thorough Invisalign aligner wearer.

So, in preparation for the back-to-school thrill-a-thon, we put together a short list of THING THAT WORK FOR US:

• Colgate Wisps – little, single-use tooth cleaners.  These things come in a pack at SAM’S club that we get to help keep Nathaniel’s teeth clean and the process affordable.
• Sports – Although it’s not the reason for Invisalign aligners, Nathaniel (a soccer player) has found them to be effective as a mouth guard while enabling him to wear him to keep a small amount of teeth protection.
• Drinks – Nathaniel has learned that indulging in any colored drink (soda, Gatorade, juices) means he has to brush his aligners.  So, he drinks more water to save time and it’s a MUCH healthier alternative.

Now, although these things aren’t “Invisalign Methods”, they ARE “Mayhew Methods”.

Disclosure:

While I am paid for my time, my opinion is my own and is never for sale.

You Got that?? MY OPINION IS MY OWN.**

I’m a member of the Mom’s Advisory Board, and my son received complimentary Invisalign treatment.

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Check me out at Babble : Daddy’s Girl