Irina Shehovsov Parenting Coach and Podcaster is my guest here On the Edge

My name is Irina Shehovsov. I'm not a psychiatrist or a doctor; just a girl who went through betrayal, separation and divorce after 9 years of marriage. Three days before my son was born "I died" inside; I found out about my husband's betrayal. My heart was cut open. I knew that my life would never be the same, at that moment I rubbed my belly and said no matter what happens I will always love my son. I went through days without meaning, suffering emotional and physical pain often thinking of ending my life, so the misery would stop. The joint sessions with psychiatrist were a waste of time. I would leave crying after each one. I did not know what to do next, suddenly I became a single mother of a newborn and 5 years old. I knew that I had to be strong for my kids, but this was coming from a purely mechanical sense. This must happen no matter what. I felt dead inside. Each day dropping kids off at two separate schools, I would run to catch the train to work. Bawling my eyes out and asking myself why I'm doing this. At work, I would plaster on a smile and go through each day. I was a “soldier who went to war that never ends”. When you are a parent, there are no vacation or sick days, you’re always on 100% of the time. When you’re a single parent, even more so. In 9 years of marriage I managed to lose my identity, my ideas, my likes, my dreams... until one day I realized there is no one to take care of me anymore. I must take care of myself; and, so the road to recovery began with me walking each morning, welcoming the day, clearing my mind. It was tough waking up before the sun and kids were up, but I felt better after the walk. Walking made me happy. Over the course of last 6 years I have rebuilt myself little by little.