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After Her Husband Had an Affair, She Thanked Him

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As many women can attest, motherhood changes you in amazing ways. But what do you do if your experience of becoming a mother is marred by something terrible–like your spouse leaving you? That’s what happened to Jen Waite, a now-single mom who lives in Maine and recently shocked the Internet when she called her husband’s affair “the best thing that ever happened” to her.

Record scratch! Uh, come again?

Infidelity is one of the most painful things a coupled person can endure, so it’s entirely understandable when people feel brokenhearted and alone after they’ve been cheated on. But Waite was able to turn the experience into something positive for her AND her daughter, and she explained her powerful reasoning in a Today.com blog post.

“Almost immediately after giving birth to my daughter, I found out my husband was leading a double life. I was suddenly on my own with a newborn baby,” Waite revealed in her honest essay. “I was wracked with pain. This pain had nothing to do with the physical stress of childbirth; the stitches still holding my swollen private area together. In his absence, I felt an emptiness where he had been. I knew I would never be whole again.”

Still, underneath all that darkness, she began to experience a strange emotion: Freedom.

“While these had been without a doubt the most difficult months of my life, there was also something incredibly freeing in being ripped to shreds and then rebuilding myself piece by piece,” wrote Waite. “Before experiencing a profound trauma, I cared very much what people thought of me. And not just my family and close friends, everyone. Strangers even. I had trouble making decisions because I wanted to make sure that my decision would please everyone. Even navigating a grocery store could be stressful – all those strangers silently observing and judging me.”

RELATED: I Was Dumped an Hour Before My Wedding

Waite’s story is ultimately uplifting and inspiring for any woman who’s dealt with a broken heart.

“So as much as I sometimes want to scream and rage at my ex-husband, I also want to thank him: For forcing me to become the person I was always meant to be. For showing me that I am a fighter and that I will never give up. And most importantly, for allowing me to become this person before my daughter ever knew anyone else.”

We salute you, Amy!

h/t Today.com

NEXT: After a Groom Requested Something SHOCKING from the Bride, She Held the Wedding WITHOUT Him

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