Has life turned out how you imagined?

[orzo15]

My life is far from how 20 something old me imagined. I am in my 30s, divorced and single, a mum to a gorgeous little boy who i had with a gay friend of mine. Living abroad, still renting, lost both parents by 31. There are some great parts of my life and some not so great. I had always envisaged the traditional trajectory of meet someone, fall in love, buy a lovely home and have 2 kids and a dog. I still see that in friends around me and feel a pang of envy, and I really hope to meet someone one day soon but also feel a bit hopeless about it now.

Curious about other peoples life paths and if they have gone in the direction they thought

Yes and no. I assumed I would have a normal middle class life - married with kids - and I did marry a very well educated man who came from a nice family, and I had DC, but my marriage was a disaster, and he was in and out of jobs and would clear off for months at a time, so I would get used to living as a single mother and then he would come home and expect to take up where he left off. Benefits were nothing like as generous in those days - we did live in very straitened circumstances. Ex-H was also abusive, which was something I hadn’t dreamt of - the first time he hit me, I was so surprised I almost couldn’t believe it had happened. It took me a long time to get divorced - and I know it upset the DC who obviously loved their father - but I am now happily married and a grandmother. Ex has turned into a hoarder who doesn’t take care of himself - I know it worries the DC, and obviously I can’t do anything about it. I do feel lucky, though, that I have had a second chance at marriage with a good man.

Way better than I’d imagined.

Yes, pretty much exactly as I had always hoped. Infact it's actually quite a bit better. Still very much in love with DH. Great relationship with adult DDs. Beautiful period home. Retired very young at 54. We'll never have to worry about money again.

I'm incredibly lucky and sincerely grateful every day.