It seems that every time I log into a social media site, mostly Facebook, I come across a post about divorce. Most every time these posts are negative, and I tend to disagree.

I have been raised by a single mom my entire life, and only ever saw my dad on weekends. My parents have been divorced since I was born, and I couldn't imagine life another way. Being raised by a single mom taught me that I will never need a man to stand behind me, and to love myself before I ever love anyone else. I wholeheartedly believe that my mom is a stronger woman on her own than she ever would have been had she stayed with my dad.

There are many words that I could use to describe my dad, none of which are positive. My relationship with him has been rocky since I was a little girl. As I got older, things went from bad, to even worse. It is always as if I was a second thought to him, and never important. My dad has been notorious for never keeping his promises, and doing anything and everything to feel better about himself. This seemed to always include bribery and buying peoples' attention, including mine. There are so many promises my dad has made to me over the past eighteen years that he has never kept that I have lost count of the amount of times I have been let down, or just blatantly lied to.

I have never had a real "father figure" in my life, but I like to believe that I made it out okay. I'm not saying that it doesn't hurt to feel rejected by your own father, and it is definitely not a feeling someone should have to "get used to", but I firmly believe that it is a feeling you chose how to perceive. It is one of those things that either breaks you down, or makes you a whole lot stronger. It is definitely something that has tested my strength over the years, and there are days that are worse than others. However I have learned that the way my dad has treated me is not a reflection of me as a person, but only on himself. My trust in that statement, my trust in God, and the support of my mom who bravely took on the role as a father as well are what get me through life without my dad. I could not imagine what my life would be like had my dad stayed with my mom, and I'm not sure I want to know.

I am so grateful for all that my mom has done for me over the years, and I am so unbelievably proud of her. She is the greatest blessing, and I could not get through life without her by my side. I was blessed to be raised by a single parent, and I could have never asked for more.