I hear your whole post, Pooks. My story is very similar to yours, even down to 3 sons, but I was 20, and I'm married to someone else now. Your whole post screams EMPOWERMENT to me. You are in possession of a sense of empowerment and are not afraid to take responsibility for your own choices. I had this happen and that happen and this, and it's not worse or better. It's just different.

Is it what it is.

What an empowering thing to know.

A friend of mine used to ask herself, "What do I have in my hand?" By which she meant, I will do what is next, based on her available choices. She had 12 kids, and faced much adversity and in the meantime changed the world. So, I ask myself often, too, when things look bad or uncertain..."what's in my hand?" and I use it. The power to choose is *always* there.

I loved your whole post, Pooks. Inspiring and full of good examples about what TO do. Thanks.

Karen