This isn't entirely about parenthood. Really, it's about all relationships in life. I'm also going to preface this by stating that this is my truth. You don't have to agree with it, but this is my blog, so I'm going to say what I think.
You cannot expect another human being to be your happiness. Not your family, not your partner, not your child. No other human being is responsible for how you feel or should be responsible for how you feel. People in your life can contribute to your happiness. But they can't be your happiness. And ultimately, how you feel is your choice and your decision. It's entirely within your control.
I learned this lesson after a horrible break up and a year of therapy where I came to the realization that having relationships (of any kind, although I was at the time focused on the romantic kind) is just dumb luck. A lot of people settle for less than what they want just to be in a relationship. That's fine for them. It's not fine for me. I do know some people who are ridiculously happy together. These people never tell me that relationships are hard work (although they of course say they require compromise) and often seem their most authentic selves when with their partners. And then there's everyone else.
So when I realized that the kind of dream relationship we're sold in movies and books isn't even anything remotely close to a sure thing, I determined that I obviously couldn't control whether I would be so lucky or if a magical person would magic up to be my special one. I could make myself miserable forever due to dumb luck, or instead, I became determined to make sure that everything (and I mean everything) that was within my control, I made the best that I could, and work out what (that was within my control) would make me happy. Because that was all I could rely on. And I could spend forever wishing and hoping and waiting for luck. Or I could make my world what I wanted it to be for me.
So I did that. And when I embarked on the solo mama journey, I had a budget- an emotional budget, a financial budget, and a time budget. I felt they were all fairly generous, but I knew there was a budget nonetheless. I was 41. I wasn't guaranteed a baby, no matter how much effort I put into the trying. And I knew, that although I would be sad if that happened, I would also be okay. Not just okay, I would have a good life that made me happy, but made me happy in a different way.
Because my child is not my happiness. She gives me so much joy, and contributes to the wealth in my life every day. But if she had never existed, or if god forbid she is ever taken from me, I know that I can be happy again. If I let myself. And not because someone else makes me happy, but because I am in control of my own happiness. No one else is, or should be, responsible for it.
End of soapbox rant for the day.
In other news, work is busy, MJ is SUCH a toddler these days, and everything else is pretty great!
