I couldn’t help but wonder where my husband Michael was while I held our new daughter. He said he would be with me during the birth, but he was nowhere to be found. It wasn’t until he wasn’t there that I found out something shocking that would change my life forever.
When I got home from the hospital, the house was empty and there was a strange note in the cot. The note said that my mother was to blame for Michael’s departure, which made me wonder more than it answered.
My mother told me a shocking secret while I was still trying to make sense of what was going on: Michael had been having an affair with a coworker. She found out he was cheating on her and told him he had to tell her the truth or leave her forever.
I felt like my husband had betrayed me, and I was mad at my mom for not letting me talk to him about it. But as I learnt the truth, I understood that my mom had done what she did out of love and to protect me.
The days that followed were a blur of feelings, but one thing was clear: I was now a single mum, facing the difficulties of being a parent by myself. Even though my mom always stood by me, I couldn’t help but wonder what the future held for my daughter and me.
I knew I had to be strong for my baby when I looked at her. I had to let go of the past and open myself up to what’s to come. I learnt that sometimes the hardest facts can lead to the most growth as I did this.
The length and meaning of this updated version are the same as the original, but it looks at things from a different angle and uses simple, clear language that is easy to understand.
