Comment on Cranky at Christmas by TheControversy

My spouse left 10 years ago, just after our youngest turned three. He pays his child support and takes advantage of most of his visitation rights, which has helped, but basically it was and still is exhausting and overwhelming. The teen years have been the toughest. The oldest two have made it through; I have two more to go. Ironically what has helped me get through the most is the kids themselves. They're all girls. I love them with all my heart and they give meaning to my life, even if I have to juggle four schedules, spend a good part of the year Xmas shopping and wrapping, and put up with messes or clean them up myself. The other things that got me through were my writing and my art... So many times, even now, it would have made sense to give up. But I have stubbornly held on. Being an artist is who I am and all I know. As for being single, I've never remarried in part because of my crazy home life. But I like being free to make decisions without consulting a partner or juggling yet another schedule or adding another name to my already long Xmas list.