It took me a couple of years to be able to share this bit of our journey openly and honestly, but here is what I learnt about becoming a parent and being in a relationship.
We were 16 when we found each other. Two teenagers with very little idea of what life had in store for us...
In 2011, we moved abroad in search of adventure and new experiences, leaving behind family and friends.
Since then, we've built a life of our own. We've moved homes, experienced losses, burnt out, become parents, changed jobs and eventually made big changes to create a life more connected to what really matters to us.
23 years together. Three children. And I believe nothing tests a marriage quite like having kids... each time!!!
Children come to show you your wounds, your patterns, your triggers. They encourage you to do the work required to grow and heal. Combine your wounds, patterns and triggers with those of your partner, and your marriage gets tested like nothing else!
If you're not willing to see and face what comes up, you may end up stuck in unhealthy patterns and pass them on to your own kids.
A few years ago, somewhere between work, responsibilities and raising young children, we lost ourselves... Then came a difficult chapter. I lost my dad, and we had to face some painful truths and some very difficult decisions. Our relationship reached a breaking point.
We had to ask ourselves whether we were willing to do the work to find our way back to each other.
We chose to try.
Individually and together, we began looking inwards, understanding old patterns and learning to show up differently. Through therapy, breathwork and other healing practices, we slowly began making changes, not just to our relationship, but to the way we wanted to live.
Today, we're still learning and growing. We're far from perfect, but I've come to realise that long-term love is about continuing to show up, communicating, having compassion and being willing to grow alongside one another.
And our children have been our great teachers!
We grow and heal in relationship!
Growing up together, as a couple and as a family, is knowing that we don't have to stay the people we were. We get to keep discovering who we are, individually and together, and keep choosing the life we want to create for our family.
🤍