I will say this: I'm pretty good at not living a life of regret. I believe that things happen for a reason: if ex-T didn't leave me, I wouldn't have found T. If T didn't go on maternity leave, I wouldn't have found L. If I wasn't with my H, I wouldn't have been able to afford T and L, and I wouldn't have my dogs. I just feel that there is always a lesson or benefit for things you go through.

But guilt and shame...those are two different things that really make it hard for me to accept myself and not punish myself.