Everyone has a story, and everyone who is divorced has a divorce story. If you ask the husband, he has his version, and if you ask the wife, she'll tell you hers. And, no two divorce stories are the same. With every divorce story comes mini divorce stories, which are stories about things happening to the couple while they are getting divorced and beyond.
Some divorce stories are really, really sad, some are confusing, some outrageous, some infuriating, and some horrifically shocking. But, I have found that there are some with happy endings, and some that are inspiring and hopeful. Here are 7 divorce stories about people I know. They are all true stories.
1."The teenage daughter from hell:" A woman I know was dating a divorced guy with two kids, one of whom was a 16-year-old girl. When they had been together for about six months, the guy decided he wanted his daughter to meet her. He described her as "the love of his life." So, they go out for dinner, and in the first 15 minutes, they start talking about possibly taking a vacation. The girl turns to her dad and says, "I'm not going on f***ing vacation with your f***ing girlfriend!" I think I would have started crying!! But, the woman didn't. After they dropped off the daughter, she turned to the guy and said with a chuckle, "Well, that went really well."
2."The Second Wedding:" A guy leaves his wife of 25 years for a younger woman, who he gets engaged the minute their divorce is final. They have a quiet wedding, and then decide to have a huge reception, inviting a lot of the mutual friends he had with his first wife. One of the first wife's best friends (who gets together with the woman ALL the time, and who has just been at her house for dinner a few nights before) goes to the reception and doesn't tell the friend, who finds out from her children that the woman was there. Is that backstabbing or what?? Not judging, just judging.
3."The Funeral:" A guy cheats on his wife with another woman and they get married. The first wife remains close with the guy's parents. Very close. She talks to them on the phone, she sends holiday cards and pictures of the kids, and when the mom becomes ill, she visits her in the hospital a lot. The mom passes away, and the ex-husband forbids her to come to the funeral. The day of the funeral, the woman was so sad, and she actually felt guilty that she wasn't there. These are the kinds of stories that make me want to throw up.
4."I Owe You a Phone Call:" This woman gets set up on a blind date with some guy. They go out for dinner and when they go to say good night, the woman slips him her cheek for the kiss. Clearly, there is no attraction on her part. He calls her a few days later, and she thinks, 'Well, he really was nice. Maybe I should give him another chance.' So, she calls him back and leaves a message. Mind you, she is returning HIS call. A few days later, she runs into him at a bar. She is with girlfriends, he is on a date. He walks up to her, and very loudly says, "I owe you a phone call!" She is horrified, and feels like saying, "No, you don't! I was calling YOU back!" Sounds like a Seinfeld episode, huh?
5."Can't Let it Go:" A woman has been divorced for 40 years. The husband is remarried to the woman he left her for, and they live in Florida. One Christmas, they have to be in Chicago for Christmas, and they have no place to go on Christmas Day. The kids (who are now adults) ask their mother if the couple can come to their house and join them (and her) on Christmas. The mother goes into a rage, ranting and screaming about how she won't spend Christmas with the guy. Seriously? You're still holding a grudge after four decades??
6."Happily Ever After:" A woman got divorced several years ago, and had a young child at the time. Fast forward 10 years. The woman falls madly in love with a guy who has never had kids or been married. They date for a few years, and decide to get married. Her child, who is now 11 LOVES the guy, who doesn't try to be his dad, just a mentor and friend. They get married and they have baby. The epitome of happily ever after!
7."Devastated Divorcee uses pain to produce published books and blog." A woman finds herself divorced with two young kids. She hasn't worked in 10 years and feels worthless and insecure. She wants to crawl into bed and stay there forever. She starts writing to make herself feel better. Eight months later, she finishes a novel about divorce that inspires her to keep writing. She writes and writes like she is a faucet, unable to stop the thoughts from coming. She gets a publishing contract, writes more books and starts a blog. She gets a job as a newspaper reporter. Her much needed outlet has turned into a full time career. She's me. I turned something awful into a life that brings me so much joy, through helping others, entertaining them, giving advice and knowledge, and of course, making them smile.
Jackie Pilossoph is the author of the blog, Divorced Girl Smiling. She is also the author of the comedic novel FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE about life after divorce. Pilossoph is also a weekly business features reporter for the Pioneer Press, with the monthly column, "Heart of the North Shore." She lives in Chicago with her two kids. Oh, and she's divorced.