
In school, I was told I was a natural swimmer. But every time that swim-team whistle blew, my stomach turned and twisted.
I am not a competitive girl.
At least not the individual type. Give me a good team sport like softball or soccer and I can prosper. But duking it out with just one person — never my thing.
Foolishly, in my youth, I should have forced myself to compete.
Maybe then I would have been prepared for the dirty tactics some use for one on one competitions. Not the ethical challengers but the ones who will do anything to win.
My husband always said, “It’s MY money.”
Sure, I heard him.
Mamamia staff share the moment that they knew their relationship was done. Post continues after.
There’s this thing called anger that makes people say all kinds of stupid things.
In fact, village idiot types of things. The kinda words we never want anyone else to hear because we are so sad and mad. Because we have forced an unhappy relationship to the brink of emotional disaster. Because we are frightened we may lose someone we love. Because we are terrified of the outcome. Especially if those we love are suffering and we feel we can rescue them.
Yup, I heard my husband when he called it “MY money.”
But I was so innocent.
I knew some people did bad things but I didn’t know those people.
I knew good people.
The kinda people who bring you dinner when you are sick. The kinda people who pick your kids up from the bus. The kinda people who fight to pay the dinner tab. The kinda people who make your world feel safe.
The kinda people who are individuals but do life as a team sport.
I never really saw the bad person coming.
Sure, there were clues. Like the time I found the key to a P.O. box. But innocent people are naive. Not a red flag here. Instead, I just inquisitively questioned why my husband would need this peculiar new address. After all, everything had always shipped to our home or our office.
By the time I understood why ruthless competitors need alternate addresses the money was gone.
Top Comments
A man is not a financial plan. Women who don't play an active role in the joint finances of a relationship are leaving themselves wide open to be robbed. It's not 1950 anymore, ladies.