Happy Friday, my friends! This week’s freebie Friday offering comes along with a personal story. While it’s not absolutely necessary for the freebie, I think it would help explain why I chose this particular quote for this week’s freebie. As you may or may not know, I’m going through a divorce. While my ex husband and I have been legally separated for two years, we still need to finalize the divorce. It’s really just a matter of formality and legal fees at this point. And in the meanwhile, we’re co-parenting Sweet B. She’s with me during the week and with him during the weekend, and for the most part, it’s been peaceful.
Until this past Monday.
Let me set the scene:
I was upstairs, in Sweet B’s room, folding her laundry and getting her back to school bag ready. We had just finished school supply shopping last Sunday and I wanted to have everything ready to go.
Sweet B’s father showed up around 9:45 to pick her up for the weekend, no big deal.
Doorbell rang, so I picked up Squeaker and headed downstairs.
For a little background information… the cable bill, which was still in his name at time, has been a point of contention since he moved out. He had said to me that he would take care of it. And by take care of it, he meant paying off the full balance so I could get it transferred to me. In two years, he’s done absolutely nothing.
I brought this up with him, asking if he could either transfer the cable bill to me or cancel the account. He tried to claim it was already transferred, which it clearly isn’t since the bills are addressed to him. I related that bit of information to him and he insisted that it was transferred.
However, he said, since he hasn’t lived here for two years? It just wasn’t his responsibility anymore.
To make a long story short, that set off an ensuing argument between the two of us about the cable bill. It hadn’t been the first time, mind you.
I also brought up the issue of child support, which I haven’t pursued considering his situation and wanting to wait until he was financially stable. He, however, is under the impression that because we have joint custody he doesn’t have to pay child support. And if you live in New York, you’ll know that isn’t the case.
After he said that I was torn between laughing and wanting to throat punch him. But, since I had Squeaker with me, I didn’t do either.
Instead, I questioned where he got his information and he insisted that it was New York State law… which, by the way, it’s not. He doesn’t pay child support, because to this point- I’ve been lenient and benevolent enough. Plus, I’m not sure how it will affect Sweet B’s SSI and since I know that’s guaranteed, I need to speak with my lawyer first to see if it’s worth pursuing.
Needless to say, this incident left me fuming and so infuriated that I was shaking.
I sat at my computer, posted a bit of an angry update on Facebook, and continued to fume. If I had wanted to be productive, I would have capitalized on this anger and started to clean.
But instead, I sat at my computer, with Squeaker on my lap and Sweet B in her room.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and tried to refocus. Instead of reflecting on this most recent incident, I thanked God for everything that I had. I reminded myself that I am with a good man and a man who is better for me.
I got my serenity back.
I used to have the Serenity Prayer printed out and hanging above my desk.
After this past Monday’s incident, I will be printing it out again and hanging it up again in several visible locations. This format is .pdf but if you would prefer a .png I can send that to you as well.
—> Download The Serenity Prayer <—
Kori
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