Do you remember the first time some high school kid at the grocery store asked if you wanted paper or plastic, Ma’am? I do, and I was a little shocked. Menopause is a bit like that too. It sneaks up on you. Suddenly the world views you differently.
Unfortunately, that means it can also affect how we see ourselves.After many years as a single mother of two and a dental assisting career, I began to feel restless. My income was never such that I could afford to travel, so I found it odd that I was craving an adventure—alone—for my fortieth birthday. Something different, something that took me out of my comfort zone. I idly checked to see how much it would cost to go to Las Vegas the weekend of my birthday. As it turned out, I began dating the man who is now my husband instead. That has been its own wonderful adventure, and does indeed take me out of my comfort zone from time to time. He invited me out for a birthday picnic on my 40th, and we’ve been together ever since.
However, this new relationship, just as I was building steam on my perimenopause transition, created a unique set of circumstances for me. Having someone in my life after so many years as the head of the household meant sharing things I wasn’t used to sharing…like decision-making.  More about this next week!
