I got married in my early twenties and meant every word of my vows. I said ‘I do’ to “…for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy law.”

I didn’t think I would be getting divorced at forty-something. I was young when I got married. I had never slept by myself and my ex-husband was my first and only boyfriend. I was in the church, so you were expected to be celibate until your wedding night and for me, that was true. 

Imagine not being fully involved in running the house financially because you concentrated on looking after the family; I gave up my job to have my children and now had to consider returning to full-time work to ensure that I could pay the bills. Suddenly, I was on my own, making decisions for myself and my children. I had meant ‘till death do us part’, but I was now faced with an uncertain future that I knew I had to recreate.