Generally speaking, divorce sucks. I don’t think you’ll hear
many people say, “The year I got divorced was the best year of my life!” In
fact, most divorcees will say it was the worst year of their lives. Lawyers,
custody schedules, division of possessions. Yeah, I could sit here and list all
the things that suck about divorce.
many people say, “The year I got divorced was the best year of my life!” In
fact, most divorcees will say it was the worst year of their lives. Lawyers,
custody schedules, division of possessions. Yeah, I could sit here and list all
the things that suck about divorce.
But I’m not going to.
Instead, I’m focusing on the list of positives about
divorce. After all, that’s why I got divorced – to change my life for the
better, to go after those positives waiting for me on the other side.
divorce. After all, that’s why I got divorced – to change my life for the
better, to go after those positives waiting for me on the other side.
Four years ago, I wrote a post for Blue Star Families about
the upsides of deployment. I felt like military spouses sometimes got so caught
up in the negative aspects of deployment that we were making that difficult time
even worse. But reminding ourselves there’s a silver lining hidden within just
about any tough situation, including deployments and divorce, can help us get
through it.
the upsides of deployment. I felt like military spouses sometimes got so caught
up in the negative aspects of deployment that we were making that difficult time
even worse. But reminding ourselves there’s a silver lining hidden within just
about any tough situation, including deployments and divorce, can help us get
through it.
So today, like four years ago when my husband was deployed,
I’m going to find the silver lining. (And the positives of divorce are actually
oddly similar to those for deployment.) Here are my…
I’m going to find the silver lining. (And the positives of divorce are actually
oddly similar to those for deployment.) Here are my…
Top 10 Upsides of Divorce
10. I can decorate my home how I want. When my ex-husband
and I were dividing our possessions before I moved out, I realized how
different our decorating tastes are. (An upside to that is that I don’t think
we had a single argument about who was keeping what.) When I moved into my new
home, I decided it was time to surround myself with colors, art and furniture
that showcased my preferences.
and I were dividing our possessions before I moved out, I realized how
different our decorating tastes are. (An upside to that is that I don’t think
we had a single argument about who was keeping what.) When I moved into my new
home, I decided it was time to surround myself with colors, art and furniture
that showcased my preferences.
9. I eat what I want. I love food, and I love to cook.
Unfortunately, my former husband and I didn’t always share the same tastes in
food either. If there were meals I liked that he didn’t, I usually only cooked
them for myself when he was traveling for work. Now every meal is a meal for
me.
Unfortunately, my former husband and I didn’t always share the same tastes in
food either. If there were meals I liked that he didn’t, I usually only cooked
them for myself when he was traveling for work. Now every meal is a meal for
me.
8. No. More. Snoring.
7. I can pursue my career. Throughout my
marriage, I put my career on hold so my former husband could pursue his. I’m
grateful for his military career for so many reasons, especially the fact that
it led to mine. But now I no longer have to worry about how his career (e.g.,
PCS moves) will alter mine.
marriage, I put my career on hold so my former husband could pursue his. I’m
grateful for his military career for so many reasons, especially the fact that
it led to mine. But now I no longer have to worry about how his career (e.g.,
PCS moves) will alter mine.
6. I’m no longer modeling a certain version of love and marriage
to my children. One strong motivation for me to get divorced was the fact that
I didn’t want my children to grow up believing that’s what love was, that’s
what marriage was.
to my children. One strong motivation for me to get divorced was the fact that
I didn’t want my children to grow up believing that’s what love was, that’s
what marriage was.
5. I have financial independence. Money may be tight for
now, but I’m actually saving money. I always joked that my former husband was
the spender and I was the saver, but I don’t think I had any idea how true that
statement was until after we split and my name was the only one on my checking
account. I now have complete control over my money and where it’s going.
now, but I’m actually saving money. I always joked that my former husband was
the spender and I was the saver, but I don’t think I had any idea how true that
statement was until after we split and my name was the only one on my checking
account. I now have complete control over my money and where it’s going.
4. I feel like I’m a better mother. Sure, I have my days
when I feel guilty for turning my son and daughter into “children of divorce,”
but most days I think the divorce may have caused me to be more involved and
attentive to their needs and emotional well-being. I think that’s partly
because of everything I read about how divorce affects young children and
partly because I treasure the time I have with them. I’m still not used to not having them around
when they’re with their father. My leisure time with them is limited, which is why I treasure things like our nightly reading/cuddle time in my bed, our
Friday night Chick-Fil-A/Redbox movie, and now that the weather is warmer, our
daily after-dinner bike rides.
when I feel guilty for turning my son and daughter into “children of divorce,”
but most days I think the divorce may have caused me to be more involved and
attentive to their needs and emotional well-being. I think that’s partly
because of everything I read about how divorce affects young children and
partly because I treasure the time I have with them. I’m still not used to not having them around
when they’re with their father. My leisure time with them is limited, which is why I treasure things like our nightly reading/cuddle time in my bed, our
Friday night Chick-Fil-A/Redbox movie, and now that the weather is warmer, our
daily after-dinner bike rides.
3. I have an independence and freedom I haven’t had in a
very long time. I’m making my own decisions. I’m doing what I want. I’m finding
happiness on my own terms. And I’m no longer living in someone else’s shadow.
very long time. I’m making my own decisions. I’m doing what I want. I’m finding
happiness on my own terms. And I’m no longer living in someone else’s shadow.
2. With that independence comes a new sense of empowerment. I don’t need a man to pump my kids’ bike tires
or hang a picture on the wall. I’m doing things I never thought I’d do. And it
feels amazing.
or hang a picture on the wall. I’m doing things I never thought I’d do. And it
feels amazing.
1. Divorce has made me wiser and more self-aware. By the end
of my marriage, I had no idea who I was anymore. I allowed my identity to get
lost somewhere along the way. But no more. My journey through the separation
and divorce has forced me on a path of self-discovery I wish I had stumbled upon years ago. I’m now
wiser about who I am, what I want, what I don’t want, and what I deserve out of
life.
of my marriage, I had no idea who I was anymore. I allowed my identity to get
lost somewhere along the way. But no more. My journey through the separation
and divorce has forced me on a path of self-discovery I wish I had stumbled upon years ago. I’m now
wiser about who I am, what I want, what I don’t want, and what I deserve out of
life.
These are so true! I have been through a divorce without kids and it sucks. My sister is going through it with her two kids and it is brutal.
All of the issues mentioned in the recent article by Roller Coaster Wife are expressed with such a positive attitude you just have to imagine that its onward and upward from here on out. From money to food, her whole life is changing in a good way and she and her children will benefit from the experience. Enjoy the ride and your favorite foods as well.
BPinVA