A New Name

After being divorced about a year I decided I needed to change my last name back to my maiden name.  I had tried holding on to my married last name for the sake of the kids.  I didn't want teachers and professionals to wonder who their mom was.  But then I decided to open my own counseling practice.  And as a budding business woman I just wasn't confident with my ex-husband's last name.  Especially in this town.  The town where I grew up and had accomplished some things under my maiden name.

I also started dating again about a year after after the separation (too soon btw) and had a revelation about my name about a year after that.  My friend Lauren, who consistently tells me the truth, said after listening to me whine about dating loser guys, "You are Adrienne F-ing D.  Time to own that fact and start living into your name.  You are fun, pretty, confident, smart, and laugh often."  I needed that confidence boost.  I do know myself.  I have done some cool things.  And most of them were under my maiden name.

I sat the boys, then ages 4 and 2, down and told them about the switch.  "You know how we do our team chant as Team L?  Now we are going to add D for mommy."  After a few chants they got the hang of it.  They say boys in our home are Ls and girls are Ds.  I don't know if I will ever take a man's name again.  Not because I wouldn't want to honor him but because I've become comfortable and confident with my birth given name.  I'm Adrienne F-ing D after all.