I never planned on getting married. I didn’t think it was real – the idea of lasting love between two adults. I didn’t think you could build a life with someone, not really. In the end, we were all alone, and the important thing was to be able to take care of yourself, emotionally, financially. Children, yes – I wanted children. But I really did believe that marriage was something that other people did.
I was raised by a single mother, in every sense of the word. It’s not just that my parents weren’t married anymore, my dad wasn’t around at all. There was no child support, no weekends at Daddy’s house. There was just my mom, doing her best and struggling her way through raising four kids alone. That was my model, my plan. I didn’t know it could be different.
Then I met Marc, and everything changed. Not all at once, but really, looking back now – it certainly seemed that way. I went from being single to being a partner. He saw what we could be together before I did, and I’ll always be grateful for that. He trusted this future, when it was entirely unrealistic to me.
It’s been thirteen years today, and I still don’t quite believe how lucky I am. I’ve got this guy – this amazingly brilliant, gorgeous man who loves me more than anything. I’ve got these beautiful stepdaughters that I love, this daughter who stuns me with her grace and sweetness, this son who has taught me more than anyone, and this baby girl who will always, always – no matter how many times I tell myself that she’s not a baby – she’ll always be mine.
I’ve got this incredible life, filled with everything I never thought I’d be lucky enough to call my own. And it’s not perfect, and I yell too much, and the kids fight, and sometimes Marc makes me crazy. The house is a disaster more often than not, the kids stay up too late and don’t eat enough vegetables. Marc and I are so busy we don’t always remember to stop and really look at each other and check in. But I love him, and he loves me, and there’s nothing, nothing, in this world that I depend on more than my relationship with him. He’s my partner, my other half, my best friend and the love of my life. And today, and all days, I’m grateful, so grateful for him and for the life we’ve built together.
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