How Independence Shaped My Life After Divorce

Since I turned sixteen and got a drivers license, a car and a job, I have valued my independence. I started working as a waitress when I was sixteen while still in high school. I made a lot of new friends where I was working. We shared a lot of fun, even when we weren’t working. Great times.

**A car very similar to my first car 1959 Ford Fairlane**

At twenty I got married. Big, big mistake. I thought you got married, stayed at home and raised kids the same way my mother had done. I was so wrong. Times had changed and it took two incomes. So the stay at home mother wasn’t possible. Both my husband and I were miserable. He was a heavy drinker which caused a lot of problems. We both had gotten married for the wrong reasons. Eventually we went our separate ways.

Michael Dolan emilydickinson@gmail. **A 1961 chevy Impala Like one I learned to drive**

Now I learned what real independence was and how much I valued my independence. I was able to stand on my own two feet. I managed to go to work, find babysitters and rented an apartment on my own. It was tough but I proved to myself I was capable of doing it.

Since I moved on my own, I have raised the three children. Gone back to school and bought a house on my own. I now live almost alone. I try not to depend on other people anymore than I have to. But there’s occasionally times I have to depend on some one else to do repairs, moving or lifting.

Thus I think independence is the trait I value most about myself. I love being independent and worry about losing my independence. I know the time will come when I am older and will have to ask others for help. I am dreading the day when I can’t drive or take care of myself any longer.