I was 8 years old when my parents decided that their marriage just wasn't going so good. At the time I didn't really understand why they wanted to get a divorce. I always thought that once you get married thats how its supposed to stay. I mean my moms parents have been married for thirty four years and my parents have only been together for nine years, so why were they ending things when they still have a lot more time?
When they were planning to get a divorce they would always fight. I tried really hard to not let it get to me, but I felt like I was the reason why they didn't want to be together anymore because my dad let me do things that my mom wasn't okay with and they always argued about it. My parents ended up actually getting a divorce and at the time I had been living in Texas, but my mom got a new job and had to move to New York and of course I had to go with her. It sucked because now I only get to see my dad during the summer or when he comes to visit me.
After the divorce I wasn't being myself. I was never really hungry  anymore and I refused to go to school, but the days that I did go I wouldn't do anything and my teacher got worried and called my mom. She had a meeting with her and I guess thats how my mom decided to put me into counseling. Counseling was three times a week; Saturday, Monday, and Friday. At first I was nervous to go because it was the first time that I would ever talk to someone about how I felt. Since I was only 8 years old I didn't really have a lot going on.
I woke up to the sound of my moms blow dryer. I realized that today was my first day of counseling I was actually really nervous. I went downstairs and had some breakfast while my mom finished getting ready for work. She was going to drop me off and wait in the waiting area since it would only take about an hour then after she would drop me off at my friends house because it was Saturday and there was nobody to take care of me.
“Isabella are you ready?” I turned around and saw my mom coming down the stairs holding her black boots and makeup bag.
“Yes mom I just need to put on my shoes. Did you feed Sophie yet?” Sophie was my dog that I’ve had since I was four.
“Yes, I did she's outside in the backyard. Im going to do my makeup so go wait for me in the car it will only take me ten minutes.” I got up and put my plate in the sink and let Sophie in. I grabbed my backpack from the couch, I was going to take my coloring book and crayons with me because sometimes I got bored at my friends house and since it was pouring down rain we wouldn't be playing outside. I put on my yellow raincoat and my grey boots and went to the car to wait for my mom. I waited for what felt like an hour until my she finally came out.
We pulled up to a small grey building. When we walked in a short haired lady greeted us and asked us who we came to see. “I’m looking for Angelina Matteson” my mom said.
“What is your name?”
“Catherine Herrington,” the lady started typing on her computer.
“She will be with you in a minute.” We went and sat on chairs in the waiting area. After about fifteen minutes a lady with long dark brown hair walked out and walked towards us.
“Hello Ms. Herrington my name is Angelina is this Isabella?”
“Yes this is her.” My mom nudged my arm and mumbled “Say hi.”
“Hi Angelina nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too.” She smiled and said, “Now come with me.” I followed her into a beige room that smelled like coconuts. I sat down on a red chair across from Angelina. “So tell me about yourself. What do you like to do for fun?”
“I really like to draw and watch movies.” An hour went by pretty fast and so did the next couple of months. It was my fourth month of counseling my mom dropped me off and I waited for Angelina to call me into her office.
“Hey Isabella come in.” I walked into her office and sat down where I usually did. “How are you feeling today?” Every time I came we would start off by saying how we were feeling.
“Im feeling good” I said.
“Thats great, how have you been feeling about your parents getting a divorce?”
“A lot better actually. Still upset, but not as much”
“I’m glad that you are feeling better. You know sometimes things happen for a reason. Sometimes when people are unhappy in a relationship they have to let each other go so that they can be happy. And hopefully they find someone else that makes them happy.”
After hearing this, I realized that my parents weren’t happy together I mean they would always fight. I would rather have them be with someone else that makes them happy than them being together and upset all of the time.
Angelina helped me find ways to deal with my anger and sadness in a more positive way. She told me that when I felt sad to draw pictures of cute animals and watch funny movies to make me feel better. It really helped to talk about it to someone who actually knew what I was going through because she told me that her parents had gotten a divorce too when she was around my age.
The divorce was two years ago which means that I am ten now. My mom has a fiance and they will be getting married soon. He’s a really nice guy and has two sons that are twins which means that now I have two stepbrothers to deal with, they are both two years younger than me. My dad has dated about three girls ever since the divorce, but those relationships never really last. But last summer when I went to spend it with him he always had this girl over named Marissa. She looked a little younger than my him. When I asked him if they were together he said no and that they were just friends, but he always talked about her so I didn't really believe that.
Two years ago I was very upset about my parents getting a divorce, but i realized that sometimes things happen for a reason. My parents are happier apart and I learned to accept that.