Have I come to terms with my childlessness?

Have I come to terms with my childlessness? 

No. 

I have simply learned to live with it. 

 

Every year that goes by makes me appreciate the little things more. 

Like eating delicious Zeppole di San Giuseppe in this traditional café:

https://grancaffegambrinus.com/en/english-pasticceria/

I love Napoli!

Invitation for a coffee and a cake :)

Here are a few photos of this beautiful castle:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bled_Castle

 

There are so many beautiful things to visit in my country. So... who will be visiting me for coffee and cake next?

:)

Madrid

 

I am reading a book written by a young woman who had a stroke ten years ago when she was only 25. I loved one of the sentences in her book. She said that it took her many years to see herself for who she was and not just as a person who had had a stroke.

It made me realise how much infertility has defined the way I see myself.  I am so much more than my infertility. There are so many wonderful things in my life. I just don't want to focus on my childlessness any more.

I would like to show you some beautiful things that I experienced in 2023 that I haven't had time to share with you yet.

I visited beautiful Madrid. I stayed there for a few days for work. And although I had almost no free time, I managed to visit the Prado again. I love the beautiful paintings of the Prado so much!

You hold them close to your heart

 

I have just returned from a two-day teambuilding and New Year's Eve party with my colleagues. It was OK for the most part, but there was one thing that really bothered me.

Part of the team building was a talk (by a hired professional) on how to make the most of our time. And to start with, each of us had to answer two questions: What are we most proud of in our lives? What will we be most proud of in 2023?

If I were with a group of close friends, I would have no problem answering.

My husband and I have gone through the dark years of infertility with 10 failed IVFs and it has made our love for each other even deeper, stronger, gentler and more beautiful.

Regarding 2023 (and 2022): I am proud of my husband. He went through a hell of a time grieving the sudden death of his beloved nephew. On top of that, his elderly mother became very ill and he lovingly cared for her. She died in her sleep a few weeks ago.  And through it all, he has remained strong, living each day to the best of his ability and solving all the problems that come up day after day. I admire his strength and his love. And I am proud of myself. I have been there for him every step of the way.

But these things are very personal and I am not prepared to share them with random colleagues.

Most of my colleagues responded / were proud of / included something about their children. And almost all the answers received warm applause.

My answer was that I was proud of myself for learning to make time for things that are important to me, like going for a walk every day.

My short speech didn't get any applause.  

Not that it really mattered, but it still bothered me. Until yesterday.

Yesterday I was looking at the latest:  https://gateway-women.com/firesidewisdom-rolemodels/

and came across a beautiful thought by Donna Ward. When I heard it, I suddenly felt at ease, at home.

"When you get to a certain age, you realize what your achievements are, and you have done those things. No one else has done those things. And your friends who are living a life that is of the mainstream will never understand the achievements you have done. You hold them close to your heart and that is what makes you walk well in the world, those achievements." 

PS: on the photo: our capital, Ljubljana, in Christmas lights

My Christmas wish

I have the same Christmas wish as the last eight years. 

I would like to receive an email from you. 

To know who you are. 

Where you come from. 

Why you read my blog. 

What my blog means to you. 

Has it helped you in any way?

 I promise I will not publish your email or misuse it in any way. And I promise to write back :) 

 My email: klara.soncek (at) gmail.com 

Looking forward to Christmas :) 

 

PS:  I've just baked a walnut potica, a traditional Slovenian sweet pastry.

Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think.

 

Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think. 

~Chinese Proverb

 

 

I came across this proverb in the book that I am reading and I loved it.

 

In the photo: a beautiful bouquet I made from flowers I had grown in my garden, for my friend's 50th birthday. I love creating something beautiful with my own hands.

I can see that you don't have children

 

I am sharing with you my old post that I wrote 8 years ago. It is the most read post on my blog:

https://thenext15000days.blogspot.com/2015/03/i-can-see-that-you-dont-have-children.html

 

I love re-reading my old posts. 

Most of the posts I would now re-write, change, delete. But this one.. is just perfect as it is.

 

The old man who looks like the Santa: he is still alive and healthy enough to work. He sent me a text just yesterday with greetings.