Dorie, I love that your pre-marital counselor was wise enough to tell you to keep telling your stories. Pretty amazing. I'm also glad you brought up this: "The stories that shape our parents shape our own lives in unexpected ways." When we shut out our children or gloss over difficult stories, we hurt them in deep ways they probably won't understand until later, if ever. This was something I never fully got in my relationship with my first husband, and his relationship with his parents. Now I can see more clearly how it negatively affected us. Thanks for sharing part of your story with me.

Juliet, I really like how you put this: Recognizing that stories are just stories "takes away a great deal of the stress and enormity of them." How true. I hope you're able to write several of your own down soon. 

ejly, how wonderful to have a MIL who works in a jewelry store (and stays on top of important dates so your husband doesn't have to!). I'm glad you made your way to the blog and found me on Twitter, too.

mommyknows, I'll look forward to your return!

Jennifer, the woman you worked with sounds amazing, and your description of her is fabulous. It makes me wonder how I might impact people who spend time around me, and how I'd want them to describe me.

cpond, I'm so glad you made it over, and that you left such an insightful comment. As you said, it is a "paradoxical process," that causes so many mixed feeling, particularly when we're in the middle of the mess. I think that's partly why we have to tell our stories to each other, so that people who made it out to the other side can encourage those who are in the thick of things.

Laura, thanks! 

Daisy, she is wonderful. :) So glad I'm able to "share" a bit of her here.