Almost ten and a half years ago I moved out of what was my marital home with my two sons who were nearly 13 and 10 respectively. We were embarking on the next chapter in our lives; my sons now coming to terms with the fact that their parents had separated and how that was going to impact on their lives. We moved into our house, just the three us of and were all to grow as individuals.
Today, that house has been sold and the keys handed over to someone else. One son is now 23 and the proud owner of a 2 bedroom flat and on the property ladder himself; the other, now 20, embarking on his third year at university living out his dream studying in the US, at the University of Dallas.
A lot has changed over the last 10 years. People talk about '7 year life cycles' and I can definitely relate to that.
This time last year I could never have imagined that my life would be where it is today. Our works Christmas do was on this day, as it is this year, and I was entertaining several members of staff with my online dating exploits! We were even suggesting that I could write a book! Little was I to know that a chance encounter 19 days later would lead to where I am today.
Last night, both of my sons, independently, sent me messages; 'did you get any photos/cry over empty Ruster Way' and 'Are you sad?'. I can honestly say that what was our home had just become a house. When they both left home and were at university, which was in September 2015, our home became somewhere that I lived and sort of lost it's heart and vibrance; the empty nest effect and although one has come home they are both now adult men and our relationships are different; as they should be!
My boys have well and truly spread their fledgling wings but still know where they can come to for reassurance and knowledge. We are all learning how to behave in the adult-adult realm rather than adult-child world!
So, we all start the next chapters of our lives.
I am very excited about my life. I have started to do some things that have been dormant for some time; the creative part of me which come from my roots, my father and paternal grandmother. I have a man in my life who is encouraging and supportive, who, along with his children have taken me in and are accepting of who I am!
We are forging a path ahead and have some exciting plans. As I approach the end of my forties and the nifty fifties loom I am learning to deal with some of the challenges that life forces upon a woman of a certain age; embracing them and coming to terms with the changes imposed by my body.
Life is great and I am looking forward to new chapters that I would never have expected to write this time last year 😊.
