Thank you Lee for your kind words. I have a friend that was from Scotland and moved to the US many years ago. She goes back often to visit and one day we hope to visit Scotland and all of Europe, one of our many dream vacations. 🙂

It took me a while to discover that the relationship was one-sided and it was very heartbreaking. I still have my moments that is for sure, but they are becoming fewer and fewer. Once I realized it I was very nervous and concerned about reactions and how I would be perceived, but with the help of my amazing therapist and husband I was given the strength to get through that. Once I wrote the letter to her I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Originally, I was not going to send it, I wrote it in my journal. Then after sitting on it for a week, discussing it with my therapist I decided that deep down I knew I had to send it and I did. I then felt an even bigger weight off my shoulders. This week the weight has lifted even more when I realized that there is no reason for me to reply to her most recent email and that I am walking away from this relationship knowing I have done absolutely everything that I could possibly do to be a friend.

I am glad that I have discovered that I need to be happy with myself in order to be happy with everyone else. It is a huge revelation for me and I know that my son benefits from it the most. I also recently had a friend lose her 4-year-old daughter suddenly and she has shared many of her feelings with me. The one thing that has really struck home with me that has helped with me moving on is to not sweat the small things because you never know what the next moment will be. Through her I have learned to live life to the fullest and go for my hopes and dreams. I have also realized that if my son doesn’t eat all of his dinner and he still wants ice cream for dessert it is not the end of the world, as well as staying up 30-minutes past his bedtime to watch an educational show that he loves. Of course, these things do not happen every night and we do have limits (my son needs limits, routines, and direction).

Thanks again for your kind words. You have made the first step, which is the hardest, discovering that you don’t NEED anyone to be happy!! Your son will see that and learn from you. Take care! 🙂