When some people get divorced it makes them question the whole concept of marriage. It might even have you wondering if you were always meant to be single:
I know blended families work for some people but I look at the problems they have and I don’t want to ever deal with that. I feel like I was meant to be single. ~ April
April was with her ex for seven years although they didn’t get married until she was seven months pregnant with their second child. Less than three years later they divorced when he chose drugs over their relationship. Following their divorce, April made a conscious decision not to date. Although she’s keeping the door open, she doubts she would commit to another long-term relationship.
The Divorce Coach Says
It’s important to follow your instincts. If you don’t want to date, don’t. If you don’t want to commit to another exclusive relationship, don’t.
I think that can be hard to do in our society which I believe to be very coupled. That pressure to couple happens very early … think about your kid’s high school and prom. Is it cheaper for two students to go to prom than one?
If you choose to be single, either consciously or because you haven’t met the right person, there’s often a suspicion that something must “wrong” with you. Thirty years ago, that meant that you might be gay. Thankfully, I think that the majority of people no longer see being gay as being wrong. I don’t know what the suspicion is now.
Regardless, I say ignore these suspicions – there’s nothing wrong in being content being single.
Sometimes it’s simply that there is a limit to what you can handle between managing kids, a home and a career. It could also be that you’re more of an introvert and introverts get a bad rap.