Last week, we decided our family would go to a local high school football game tonight. It's a fun time for the children to spend time with all their friends and for my husband and me to socialize with adult parents in the meantime.

This is how it went down...

Today, my husband called into work sick. I went to work. He called me at work and asked what we were doing tonight because he was feeling a little better and I told him I planned on going to the football game. He told me he couldn't go because he needed to be by a toilet-just in case. I told him I'd take the children and that wasn't a problem.

I arrived home from work and our son told me he didn't want to go to the game because good friends of ours (with children) called to invite us to their house. I told him I planned on going to the game, but he didn't want to go because his best friend wasn't able to make it to the game. Our daughter's best friend was going to the game and our daughter still wanted to go.

Now, I have my husband telling me he isn't going, our son telling me he doesn't want to go to the game, but wants to go to our friends' house and our daughter telling me she wants to go to the game.

In all of this chaos, I told my husband he could take our son to our friends' house and told our daughter that we were still going to the game, but we'd meet up with them later. We did.

I know this may sound trivial to some of you, but for me this was a huge step.

In the past, I probably would have folded my cards, nixed the football game and gone to our friends' house.

This is just one example where I find myself getting stronger. It was also good for our daughter to know that she also has a voice and her vote counted.

Fun was had by all and I don't have any feelings of resentment or regret.

Thanks for the kudos and please know you have it in you too to not cave in and feel the resentment/regret.

It takes practice. Try it once in a situation that wouldn't matter. You'll find it empowering. You'll see.

Please post about it afterwards. I want to hear about it.

Hanginginthere

Last Friday, I had made plans on going out with a friend later on after work. My husband was on board and all for it.

Our son called me at work to ask if he could invite some friends over for a sleepover. I told him he'd have to talk to his father since I was going out and wouldn't be home.

My husband and I went to our counseling session (another great one!) where my husband informed me he told our son he could have some friends stay over for the night.

I left counseling and arrived home. Our daughter then informed me she was also having two of her friends stay overnight.

I can't tell you how good this felt. My husband okayed all of this and I was going out. This has never happened.

In the past, my husband would have chosen to stay out if he knew there'd be a houseful of kids.

I stayed until everyone arrived and ate some pizza. My husband was practically kicking me out of the door and told me he could take charge of the situation.

My girlfriend and I went out for about three hours and we had so much fun, although two guys tried hitting on us and I felt so weird, probably because they were weirdos (sexual innuendos) and I'm not used to going to a bar without my husband.

This experience made me appreciate my husband all the more and I told him when I got home. He was also proud of himself.

We made plans to go to my in-laws for dinner and cake, since they've been in FL for the last seventeen years for his birthday.

My husband never came home from work and did not answer his cell phone when I tried reaching him. I called my mother-in-law and asked her if she heard from him, as we were scheduled to eat dinner at 5:30. She didn't hear from him, so I told her I'd wait until 5:00 to see if he came home before I left for their house.

Five o'clock came and children and I drove to my in-laws. Sure enough, who was already there...my husband. Go figure! He had stopped by his "club" to see some of his friends and conveniently left his cell phone in the car.

We had a nice dinner/birthday cake - no regrets or feelings of resentment.

Life does go on!!!

Again...in the past, I would have been steaming mad that he didn't call or come home and may have waited at home until I was called that he was there.

I sometimes feel as if I have to live my life as if he doesn't exist and need to keep moving forward, with or without him.

Signing out...

Too tired of the waiting game!

What a great role model you were for your children. Kudos!

I'm trying to be a better role model for our children and want them to know they don't have to spend half their life waiting around for someone and that life does go on...with or without him.

It sounds like the song, doesn't it? But, so true! LOL

Hugs and sweet dreams!!!