My New Chapter
In September 2023, my marriage ended, and I became a single mum.
The title ‘Single Mum’ was never something I anticipated I would be associated with. It wasn’t part of my plan. It wasn’t a label I ever thought I’d wear, but sometimes life throws curveballs when you least expect them. Our circumstances can change in an instant for so many reasons, and suddenly, we are faced with an entirely new reality.
The past 15 months have been the toughest period of my life. There have been moments of absolute despair, tears I never thought I could cry, and challenges I never thought I would have to face. But as I sit here and write this, I realise I’m still very much in the thick of it all. I’m not fully healed. I still have days when the weight of everything feels too heavy. Some days, I find myself fighting to accept this new version of my life. But like everyone who has ever faced adversity, I have no choice but to embrace change—no matter how painful or challenging it may be at times—and allow space for growth and new opportunities.
This experience has forced me to look at myself in ways I never thought I would. It has made me confront fears, insecurities, and strengths I never knew I had. It’s also been a journey of self-discovery. I’ve begun to heal—not just emotionally, but in a way that has made me rediscover my own resilience. I’m learning to be much kinder to myself, to be more patient with the process, and to embrace the unknown with an open and kind heart.
While this experience has been life changing for me in so many ways, it has also been an experience which has led me to moments of clarity, joy, and gratitude that I never would have experienced without this shift. I’m beginning to understand that healing doesn’t happen in a straight line, it is not linear. Just when you think you are okay, just when you think you are ‘there’ something happens and you feel like you are back to square one again. It’s so unbelievely messy, utterly imperfect, and sometimes feels like two steps forward and one step back. But what I am realising recently is that it’s okay. It’s not in a race after all.
For anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation, feeling the weight of unexpected change or fearing the unknown, I want you to know: you are not alone. You are so much more than your circumstances—resilient, strong, and fully capable of creating new beginnings. I believe that, step by step, just like me, you will rebuild, grow, and ultimately flourish, because WE have no other choice but to!
By @that_expat_single_mum
