“When I was a newly single mom with a toddler and a newborn, I’d cringe when meeting new people,
especially other young parents, none of whom seemed to be anything but blissfully orbiting in their nuclear
family unit. I’d dance around any pressures (perceived or real) to reveal my marital status, until I’d burst, and a
flood of unprompted details would pour out: “I’m-separated-yes-your-math-is-right-my-ex-moved-out-while-Iwas-pregnant-but-he-had-a-brain-injury-and-destabalized-so-it-is-an-unusual-situation-a-medical-crisis-he’sactually-a-very-good-person-I’m-not-angry-about-that-we-are-all-fine!”