By: Rachel Gladstone for Divorced Moms
When my ex-husband and I first fell in love, he was really happy with me.
When I took the time to point out my flaws he would shut me down, insisting he was happy with me just the way I was. And just like that old Billy Joel song, Just The Way You Are, which happened to be a hit when we were first hitting the sheets, I thought his acceptance of me was very romantic.
But considering that Billy Joel dumped his wife right after the song came out, leaving her for a newer, younger model, I should have been suspicious from the start.
Sadly, I was not. And after much trepidation on my part and much reassurance on his, I finally decided to take my husband at his word.
I got comfortable and settled in to what looked like happily-ever-after with a man I had decided I could trust completely. I let down my guard and let my freak flag fly. “He likes me, he really likes me!” I told my family and friends.
I could be myself; live my life without altering my behaviors to suit a man. Everything felt so right.