How my journey began

This is me… Chantelle 

A mom, a partner, a divorcee. A woman who didn’t plan her life to take the twists and turns that it did. A woman embracing change and trying to find growth and meaning in the ups and down along the way. A woman, mom and now stepmom trying to navigate this little thing called ‘blended family life’.

I have felt alone. Unsupported. Hopeless.

There have been many moments where I have repeatedly said… “I didn’t sign up for this”,… “this feels too hard”, … “should ‘new beginnings’ really feel THIS hard?”.

I have felt out of control.  I have struggled  with decisions that have been made. I have needed to fight…and I fought hard. I have wanted to cry…and boy oh boy have I cried. I have had to find strength in myself that some days I didn’t think existed anymore. I have had to embrace a new journey, a new life and figure out what ‘divorce’, ‘co-parenting’ and ‘blended family life’ means to ME. Words that are no longer phrases I’ve learnt about in my Psychology text books or stumbled upon on social media. Words that now describe my NEW LIFE. A blended family life.

BUT - and there is always a BUT...

I have also learnt so much about myself through this journey, my own strengths and what I value most in life. I have learnt to embrace being a mommy through a different lens… a mommy to my daughter, my whole world, and a little boy who calls me ‘aunty Chantelle’ has taught me that my ‘whole world’ had space for one more.

I have fallen in love again. Tristan is wonderful and holds me in the palm of his hands. As romantic as this sounds he is stubborn as hell and challenges me in every way! Some days are easier than others in our blended dynamic. Undoubtedly he is my biggest supporter and cheer leader. We are partners in the truest sense of the word.

I have spent endless nights trying to figure out how ‘Blending & Mending’ can take shape to be a community of support for you as we share our blended story. But importantly to create a platform for you to share your stories of life as we all learn and grow together.

Ultimately the purpose here is to BLEND as families and embrace new roles as new family dynamics unfold. To MEND what needs to be mended for families to move forward and embrace the new.

I don’t have all the answers, but have absolutely learnt my fair share of lessons that I can use to SUPPORT you, COACH you and INSPIRE you to walk your own journey of blended family life.

Are you ready to be vulnerable? raw? real?

Are you ready to start this journey with me?