Continuing To Find A Common Ground

First of all, let me say I’m sorry for my minor absence. The internet has been off and on all week--- mostly off. It’s been stressful not being able to complete simple internet tasks, but it has also been a good opportunity to catch up on all the other projects that need to been accomplished around here. 

Second, I want to say thank you. 

This blog is what it is today because of all the people who come here to share and take part in my life and my daughter’s life. I've shared bits and pieces of my life, and in return, I've had so many readers share their stories and their lives with me. Ohdeardrea is (*only*) a little over a year old (a few months older than Marlowe) and has become very much a part of my everyday life. While this blog was started as a way to document my story for my daughter and my life with her, it has grown into so much more. This blog has become a community.

When meeting people we look to find that common ground. We look for similarities and interests. We meet people and want to find if and where we can relate and decide if and how our relationship can grow. Even traveling thousands of miles away we can find comfort and feel like we are home again through the people around us. We make simple connections in airport terminals, we find the person we sit next to may only live a few blocks from us, or enjoy the same local park, beach, market, whatever. 

The internet can be very much like that. Many people have found ohdeardrea for many different reasons. Many readers are far away family members, wishing to read about their newest far away relative. Many are friends or classmates who, over time, have taken different paths, and are living different lives, so very far away. And so many of you, are strangers, who have found ohdeardrea through that common interest and have found that you can relate for one, or many, reasons. 

Whether it has been a love for food, veganism, making simple handmade projects, growing babies, bright homes, bright and colorful daily events of recently enjoyed things, or single parenting, you have found my story and have become a part of our lives. I am so happy and grateful for this. 

Many woman have come here and found a common ground in single parenting. I’ve received so many emails of stories, questions, 'thank you’s' and support. I have found so much comfort from so many woman who have come to share their story with me, and I have received so many ‘thank you’s’  from other woman that I have done the same for. When starting this blog, I could have never expected this amount of positive feedback from other single (and not single) moms. And I cannot begin to describe how much this means to me. 

Thank you for being part of this blog and my life. This has been one hell of a year. With the help of my loved ones, Eric, friends (primarily Michelle), and (especially) my family, I have been given even more chances to live a truly beautiful life with my daughter. From the ups and downs of motherhood, creating relationships with new people, and old people whose connection you cannot shake.... I’ve experienced extreme fear and pain and extreme love and joy. I have been at the lowest most scariest points of my existence, but again, I have found my confidence, along with a better self and a new hope. You have been here to witness not all, but most, of what I have been able to share. You have watched my daughter grow, and have watched me grow along with her. 

You have seen many of the changes happening around here in the past few months and weeks. Because, just like you, Marlowe, myself, my life, and life in general, this blog is growing and changing everyday. Marlowe's father is back, and despite the troubles we have battled, are battling, and are going to battle, Alex and I are doing what we can to create our family. This is our new path. Our family is our new goal. For the past year many woman have come here to find the common ground of single parenting, tired of seeing the perfect blogs with the "perfect" families they have found a commonality and comfort here. I may not be the single mother struggling, scared alone in pregnancy and motherhood, or battling a teething sleepless baby by myself anymore, but I am still human, a new mother, with many imperfections. And despite everything, I am still growing and fighting to make my life the very best I can, just like each and every one of you. 

Thank you for being my community, thank you for joining me on this journey, thank you for finding a common ground, thank you for being my support, and thank you for finding support in me. My hope is that, as my life continues to grow and change, you still find yourself at home here.

Thank you for continuing to grow with us. 

"Only he can understand what a farm is, what a country is, who shall have sacrificed part of himself to his farm or country, fought to save it, struggled to make it beautiful. Only then will the love of farm or country fill his heart."
-Antoine de Saint-Exuper