Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Strong or Foolish?



My husband and I go to marriage counseling every Tuesday. We didn't go last week because our therapist was not in. Our left session ended on an interesting note. My husband said the only reason we are still together is because of my strength. He said he knew that there weren't a lot of women who would put up with his bullshit and still be able to keep our family together. The therapist nodded her head and I shook mine. I did not totally agree with what he said.

I don't see myself as strong because I stayed with a man who cheated on me and didn't always treat me the way he should have. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but strong is definitely not the word I would use. I felt very weak for a long time. I went back and forth wondering what the hell was wrong with me. Why couldn't I leave?

I am the example my daughters have of what a woman is suppose to be. What have I taught them? They witnessed a lot of arguments and felt the loss of their father not being around. I feel guilty because I should have gotten them out of that situation. Luckily, they are very strong young women. I really think their father's paternal senses kicked in just in the knick of time. I'm not sure what would have happened to them if they would have had to go any longer without him being the presence he should have been.

What did my sons learn from my experience? Will they think you can treat a woman any way you want and she'll still be with you? My husband seems to think our children had no idea what he was doing, or at least that's what he says. I'm not sure if that is his true feeling. I think it's a rationalization to make him feel better.

I know that I have strength. I've endured a lot in and out of my marriage. I do know that it took a lot to hold my family together and raise my children, basically, on my own. They are part of the reason I stayed. I wanted them to have a two parent home. The problem was, I was a married, single mother for a long time. Women raise children on their own all the time. The real single mothers are the strong ones. Sometimes I feel like a coward for staying in my relationship.

If it has not become obvious yet, I am very hard on myself. I'm the type of person who is always thinking and wondering. My mind is always going tick, tock, tick, tock, all damned day long. I get tired of it, but I can't help it. Before we started counseling, I spent every free moment thinking about my husband's infidelities. I was almost obsessed. It was pitiful. Looking back, I see what a mess I was. I feel strong now because I know I will never settle for anything less that what I know I deserve. If he cheats on me again, i'll be out so fast that he will be covered in my dust.

It's easy for him to say I was strong. Things worked out in his favor and I guess he's trying to compliment me and that's fine, but putting up with garbage doesn't make me strong. I was just a fool in love. All I could think about was my heart. I held on hoping the man I fell in love with would return. I didn't think about what was best for my children, or even myself. I have regrets, but I can't go back. The only thing I can do is make sure I don't revisit the mistakes of the past.



I am changing each and every day. I have put up with things in my marriage that I never would have put up with in any other circumstance. I don't let people take advantage of me and I always speak my mind. This was not true when it came to my marriage. It was like I turned into a marshmellow as soon as my husband was involved. Those days are certainly over. I let my needs and wants be known and definitely have left my doormat days behind. He has changed a lot as well.

No one knows what the future will bring. I can only say that I feel stronger than I have in a long time and my foolish days are over.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hmmm, very postitive very positive...and Im proud of you girl. Just keep him in your prayers..Let God handle it from here...


oh and how was the sex...just kidding...lol

Scorned Woman said...

Still haven't had sex yet. It was my son's 18th birthday weekend and a lot of things were going on. It'll happen when it should.

Unknown said...

you are very strong for all the right reasons...does your husband read your blog?

Scorned Woman said...

gayte-keeper - No one I know has any idea I blog. It's something i'm doing for me.

Lil Miss Honey B said...

WELL, I think everyone has been a fool in love at some point in their lives. One of the things I tell my friends when they start to put down so-and-so because she's being stupid behind her man is "It's so easy to say 'why don't she just leave him' when you're on the outside looking in. But when you're time, money and heart are in it, it's difficult. We don't know what happens behind closed doors." And I say it about you and your situation. And really, it's no one's business why you stayed but your own. Sure there are things you wished you would have done differently, but that's in the past now. What matters most is what happens from this day foward...

Keith said...

You have to take things a day at a time..Like you said..Things will come together when they come together.I hope things work out for you.

Scorned Woman said...

Honey B - Thanks for that. I know there are people who wonder why including me, but like you said when your time, money and heart are in it, it's difficult.

Keith - Thank you. We're trying to make it work.

n0days0ff said...

Trust me , I know all about having so much time,money and effort invested in someone that you don't wanna leave. I applaud you every time I come here because what you are doing is not for everyone. You are ten thousand times stronger than I ever could be


Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could beeeeeeeee

Lol

Anonymous said...

Dang girl.....




O and I know that you have noticed the name change.... :)

Kingsmomma said...

I don't think it was foolish. I think we tend to look at it as foolishness because of hindsight. You were and very strong to be in a marriage alone and raise your children without allowing your marital problems to spill over onto your children.
I'm glad you two stuck in there. I think marriage (not like i would know) is a very hard thing that too many people take lightly.