I'm delighted for you. I live nearly 9 years in Ireland and I do miss a "home", something with my stuff, where I can do what I want, just close the door and have peace and quiet.
My own home is a dream I hope to make true someday, too. Great to see you made it with 3 kids and a lot of determination. Wishing you all every happiness in your new home Joleen.
I dunno Cat, I always did try to talk to someone in the past, I never ask something of someone that I wasn't willing to give myself.
Looking at relationships going wrong around me, a good few started for the wrong reasons (wanting children, not being on their own), some people just were blind and hoped the partner would change... Not trying hard enough didn't even come into that.
People change and sometimes people don't know what they want until they know what they don't want.
My parents had a great marriage. They were quite different, but what I always will remember is that the 2 of them were always talking - current affairs, politics, what's happening in the world etc. The worked together all day but never got tired of talking to each other. I honestly can't remember big rows, on rare occasions when they went out, they always went together and my mum still says how lucky she was to have my dad.
IMO it came with a price though - only for my mum. Pressure from both mothers, full-time work and housework, kids, all on her shoulders.
I did have good relationships in the past but that was always the breaking point - that NOT everything workwise was left to me and trying to take decisions away from me. Both people have their strength, but a partnership implies that to me - partners and that's what I was missing at the end of the day.
It did sadden my parents that my siblings didn't have a similar happy marriage as themselves.
Sounds like a comfy evening F. Put up your feet and enjoy. I like baileys myself but we got homemade vanilla egg liqueur, that's what we had Christmas eve.
I don't see my family that often, so I do appreciate time spend with them. Still have to catch up with my cousins and oldest gods child over the weekend.
Z looks skinny enough, some good food won't do him any harm. Jogging around the mountains should do the trick fast enough.
RE: Recovering...
Get better soon Calli and best of luck with your new house and job.