Single doesnt mean damaged

At my age, being single is so often equated as being damaged or unwanted. Everyone around is in a relationship or has been married for 10 years, has two or more kids and a house and a dog. But I am single and "worse" (read sarcasm) I'm a single mom. So, to many i am damaged or im someones unwanted problem. But im NOT. And neither are you. Someone elses choice to leave, does not make us damaged or worthless. What it does make us is stronger, more knowledgeable about what we want and don't want, and mostly it makes us cautious. Especially as single parents. If you're like me, you never want to see the pain in your childs eyes when they learn that someone they loved and idolized, has abandoned them. So we are cautious. We don't just hang out with any one, we value our time and energy. We have protective barriers and we want someone who is willing, not to knock down our barriers and make us vulnerable, but to join us and help us reinforce our barriers from the hurts in the world. It takes time and patience to get to know someone who has been broken down and destroyed by "love", but when you do, man is it worth it. We know what real love is and when you give us yours, we will return it to you tenfold. We are not damaged or thrown away, we are rare and authentic and worth the effort.