Yes, like most of America, I am now divorced (hence the lack of posts for a bit). The "starter marriage" is over, the juicer and toaster were divided equally, and it's all over...save for a missing book or two. However, it's worth mentioning that over the course of said divorce, I discovered the one situation where people congratulate you for not having kids.
"Oh, you're getting a divorce? I'm so sorry! You were so smart to not have kids, it would be so much more difficult!"
If I had a dollar for every time I heard this throughout Le Divorce, I'd have a shiny new Coach bag. Apparently, getting divorced is the one get-out-of-kids-free situation in our society. Suddenly, my childed friends (and relatives, and co-workers) were praising my foresight in not having children and putting them through a divorce. Now I'm the woman who Planned Ahead, the woman who was Smart Enough to Not Have Kids, the woman who Was Right to Think Things Through.
It should be mentioned that this point was really hammered home by an event at my work. A woman I was talking to was asking me about Le Divorce, how easy it was and so forth. Sadly, her marriage isn't working out, but she has three kids and isn't sure about how to go through with all this without traumatizing the kids. I wasn't really sure what to tell her, but I got the general response: "I love my kids, but...you're so lucky."
I don't know how long this is going to last, but I'm going to enjoy this to the fullest. At last, venerated for being childfree!
