I wish my ex-husband had seen the joy and happiness of Babies Funland.

I came across an article once that said not everyone talks to themselves in their heads. This surprised and amazed me. I am not one of those people, though. I always have a lot of thoughts running through my brain. I am neurodivergent and tend to be very emotional and anxious. My ex-husband didn’t understand this about me and often told me to hide my emotions. He prioritized his work over our relationship, and I felt unseen and unsupported.

I constantly worried about not causing him stress, even though life always brings stress in different ways. I tried to be what he wanted me to be and suppressed my emotions. I stayed in the marriage for a long time, but I finally left to find myself again.

Now, I am remarried to someone who understands me, and I am happier. I want my ex to find someone who appreciates him and makes him happy. I’ve learned to listen to my feelings and be true to myself. I hope others in similar situations realize that it’s okay to walk away from a harmful relationship.

Meg Raby is a mom, children’s author, and autistic person living in Salt Lake City. She works with neurodivergent children and believes in loving and accepting others.