THE D Word! Being a divorced 20 something!

When you look as young as I do, telling people I am divorced is visibly shocking to whoever you are talking to. People don’t know how to react and it makes my own stigma and embarrassment even more intense. Learning how to not be ashamed of this has been a process. I am glad we figured things out in our 20s and not one day in our 40s. I am glad I was strong enough to walk away. I am even glad that I was married and learned so much about relationships. We were young and grew away from each other it happens and I still care for my ex and wish him the best and am very happy for some of the great things he has achieved while we were apart.

So I am not letting the people around me shock me back into being ashamed. We all go through heartbreak and break ups and it is still tough and I never saw my life this different. Married, I held corporate jobs and had the family health insurance and took the brunt of the responsibility (a lot of my own doing) and decision-making. I liked to think I wore the pants, so to speak, in our marriage and that I was progressive and went against conventional gender roles. That was a good experience but a lot changed. We both lost our great luxury apartment in the split and I live like I am in my 20s on the Lower East Side, a great place to live with a great roommate but I never saw myself doing the roommate thing and not being in control. So here is another lesson in life and it has been all about learning compromise. Even though I feel I have stepped back it is just about re-calculating.

The hardest thing has been the isolation. So everyone has been through breakups but I hardly know married 20 something’s in the city to begin with, let alone DIVORCED! Only now do I find out that there are all sorts of blogs and help sites for us newly single chicks.

A lot goes through my mind. Does my family think I am a flake? I am the first divorced. I even joked around with a friend about sending out notices on nice stationary that there has been a split, kind of like the anti-engagement notice.

Dear family and Friends,

I, Jessica Huse would like to inform you of the separation / divorce of ______ (insert partner) and I. There will be no need for condolences although I have registered at Crate & Barrel for the items that where split or I need for my new living space.
Thanks all, please make the adjustments to your address books.
(Why Hallmark has not tapped into this market is a surprise).

So I think we should celebrate this new start and now I say I am divorced with confidence because I would not change it and letting go of that hurt is what has taken away my stigma. I also want to share it because I don’t want other women to feel they are the only ones going through this shit and crazy emotions. There are times when all is fare in love and war.