It's been a while, a real long while

[Nahla2]

Hey there, it’s me Nahla.

It’s been a long time since I last showed my face.

And I have long forgot my old password..and lost access to my old email.

So I just used my old name and added a 2 to the end of it.

I’m not sure how many people remember me, I’m not exactly the most impactful person but…hi I'm back.

My life has changed drastically since I was last around here, I did a lot of soul-searching and turned my life around.

For once I finally got real help and was diagnosed with PTSD, and found wonderful connections that helped me realise what I went through with my family was not okay and was abuse, that just because I was not being physically harmed it does not mean I was not being abused.

I can now heal and go on with life and I have.

For starters, I am now a mother, I have a two-year-old daughter who I will protect from anything that wants to harm her.  Even if the way she came into my life isn’t exactly the happiest I wouldn’t give her up for anything.

I have learnt to accept myself the way I am, including my sexuality.

As a result of growing up in an extremely homophobic family, I thought there was something wrong with me.

I was taught a woman liking women was wrong.

So I denied it, I dated men thinking it would help me get over my thoughts and I’ll be ‘normal’ and while I did love those men in my own way, it felt wrong, like I was betraying myself by being with them, and I was lying them them too. I loved them as dear friends.

I’m lesbian, I have accepted that now.

I have married the most amazing woman who has adopted my daughter as her own and we own a bakery together.

We have purchased a home.

This time ten years ago I thought my life was stuck in a rut I could not get out of, that happiness was something I could only dream of, that I had to wear that fake smile to hide the pain.
But I found my happy ending, I've found joy in life, I found purpose and hope.

I’ve been going on a trip down memory lane and checking on old sites that I used to frequent, this one was on the list. I remember the friends I made on here, how I felt accepted.

I’m not active in the fandom anymore, but clicking around I see some familiar names still around.

Glad to see you all made it through a certain global pandemic.

I’ll have to introduce my daughter to these movies when I can get her interested in a show that’s not Bluey that is.

[Sneak]

Welcome back, Nahla.

Glad to hear your life normalized and you found inner peace.

Hope your daughter will like LBT movies.

[aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato)]

Welcome back! If you want access to your old account, I’m pretty sure an admin can restore it for you.

It’s great to see you around again Nahla! Always happy to see a long-gone regular return

[ImpracticalDino]

Welcome back Nahla!

You may not recognize me since I only joined the forum in 2019. I do however recognize your name amongst the older members. Glad that you could join us again after awhile.

I'm quite happy to hear you've gotten away from your toxic family, found love and peace with marriage, and adopted a daughter.

Land Before Time is love, Land Before Time is life as they say!!!!
Hope your daughter becomes a fan!

[Rattymon]

Welcome back to the forum! 

[Dolores]

Welcome back I only joined a few days ago but so we never interacted but I’m glad to see you got your life sorted out and found happiness. Everyone deserves someone that loves them for everything they are.

It’s your family’s loss not yours.

And a 2 year old? That must be…fun.

[Nahla2]

I’m not too fussed about my old account there’s nothing attached to it other than bad fanfiction I want to pretend doesn’t exist.

And considering my daughter cried because I wouldn’t let her climb in the oven with the lasagna it’s definitely ‘fun’.

None of my parenting books prepared me for that.

[Mumbling]

Nahla <3

It is so good to see you again! I see you've been through hell and back, but you came out a much stronger person. I'm sorry you had to deal with so much mental abuse, and I'm very glad to hear you are in a better place now in all the ways.

Your daughter sounds lovely, haha. I was very glad to read your wife has adopted her. That is wonderful.

I'm not really active in the fandom anymore either, but am still around for the community. There's still plenty here which connects us

Anyway I'm rambling, it is truly great to see you again. Welcome back!

[Nick22]

welcome back nahla. i remember you quite well, and its great to see you back. i'm happy that you have found a family, both in your wife and daughter.  we are a product of our experiences, both good and sometimes bad. but it sounds to me you have come out of a  very bad experience and come out as a better person.  glad to have you back.

[rhombus]

Welcome back!  I definitely remember you from back when I first joined the forum. Sometimes in order to find something beautiful we have to get past adversity. I am glad to hear that you now have a wonderful wife and daughter.

[somerandomfangirl]

NAAAAAHLAAAAA!!!   

Holy moly it's so good to see you here again, I've been wondering how things were going for you. I rejoined the GoF a few years ago when I had another dino phase, it has phased out again though and I am not much more than just the odd lurker these days. I did a double take when I saw your username just now.

I'm glad to see things are looking up for you, I remember you were struggling with things when we had our private chats way back when. It's great to see you making a new life with your new family and accepting yourself. I hope things continue going well for you.

Man it's weird thinking we're both grown up now when we met here as teenagers. I've just moved out and got my own place, no kids but two cats and not long entered my first relationship just after accepting that it was the single life for me.  I'm a lot happier now too.

If you pop on here again and want to catch up feel free to send me a PM! I might take a week or two to get back to you but I'll keep an eye out.

I’m not too fussed about my old account there’s nothing attached to it other than bad fanfiction I want to pretend doesn’t exist.

That's such a mood, I posted a lot of cringe here 10 years ago. XD