It's often strange where life takes us, yet thank heavens this boy has you in his life.
I was thinking just recently how despite the clashes and problems we've had in the past, I'm ever grateful that we didn't do what many families do when they disagree and cut one another out of their lives. We've always done our best to work through problems and I'm glad of their support as we face uncertain times.
I didn't so much cut Ploi's father out of our lives, as he chose to remove himself, didn't make contact for years and married someone else. The divorce was required for visa reasons. Ultimately I'm back to being the "first wife", semi-raising the child of the next one, for the sake of the children and because I think forgiveness works better than animosity. As much as it sticks in my throat some days.
It's still actually very common in Thailand for men to have several "minor wives" and for the whole clan to live together, mostly for economic reasons.
Well done you for being able to ride out the tough times cos yes, in the end, no one wins from divided and destroyed families.
It can't be easy. I recall my sister making a lot of effort to keep her son's father's side of the family in his life, despite animosity and little help from the father. It's for the sake of the children, in the end. It's no fault of theirs that adults have made the decisions they have. As a teen he ended up choosing not to keep contacting his father and his father made no effort, so they went their separate ways. Gosh, what women have to push through...
You display amazing strength and seem to be proving to be quite the matriarchal figure.
I wasn't aware of that. It's not a concept we're familiar with any more in the western world. Indeed it would be frowned upon most likely if anyone chose to live that way, which they do, on occasion.
LOL I only just turned 58 - don't wish the "matriarch" tag on me just quite yet. 😆
I just turned 46 and am attempting to accept my impending cronehood as motherhood comes to a close! I don't mind trading my time, though. 🤣