WEBVTT - Surviving Divorce With Toni Braxton

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<v Speaker 1>Hey, fam, I'm Jada Pinkett Smith and this is the

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<v Speaker 1>Red Table Pop podcast all your favorite episodes from the

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<v Speaker 1>Facebook Watch show in audio, produced by Westbrook Audio and

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<v Speaker 1>I Heart Radio. Please don't forget to rate and review

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<v Speaker 1>on Apple podcasts. Let's do this. M Divorce touches everyone.

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<v Speaker 1>My own mother has been divorced three times. Yeah, three

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<v Speaker 1>of divorces. I met Will as he was splitting from

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<v Speaker 1>his first wife, Shari. I love the Tony Braxton. She's

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<v Speaker 1>one of my favorite Tony is one of your favorite. Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>this is exciting. Table Talk has become one of my

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<v Speaker 1>favorite shows. Gonna be the Realist, the most honest, superstar

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<v Speaker 1>singer and multiple Grammy winner. Tony Braxton has endured health issues,

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<v Speaker 1>financial struggles, and a painful public breakup from her husband

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<v Speaker 1>of twelve years on I think this thing is a martini.

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<v Speaker 1>That's so is a martini to talk about divorce, the

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<v Speaker 1>D word, surviving divorce. This one he is my book. Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>the Tony Brax and she and I we talk a

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<v Speaker 1>lot about all kinds of stuff. We came across the

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<v Speaker 1>subject of divorce. Yeah, and you know game has been

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<v Speaker 1>divorced three times. You gotta do it. Did you get

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<v Speaker 1>it right? And I'll kill you. I hate it being divorced.

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<v Speaker 1>I hated everything about it. I hated having to surrender

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<v Speaker 1>to the loss. I'm everyone said, you don't even at

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<v Speaker 1>the acceptance stage. I'm like, no, I feel like a loss.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm waving the white flag my husband and not excess.

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<v Speaker 1>I keep saying husband Jesus. My ex husband. Carrie was

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<v Speaker 1>one of the founding members of Mint Condition. Pretty okay,

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<v Speaker 1>So you were waiting for that. Yeah, yeah, that is

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<v Speaker 1>one of my favorites. Yeah. So you guys fell in

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<v Speaker 1>love and had two beautiful boys. The part that I

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<v Speaker 1>found really interesting is the idea that you went from

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<v Speaker 1>being divorced from being husband and wife two boyfriend and girls. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>my husband became my boyfriend and we were attempting to

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<v Speaker 1>salvage the relationship again. We were hopeful and we dated

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<v Speaker 1>for a good year and almost two years after we

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<v Speaker 1>got a divorce. I immediately, I know it sound crazy, right,

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<v Speaker 1>No it doesn't, because actually one of my husbands proposed

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<v Speaker 1>that to me as well. I just didn't think it

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<v Speaker 1>was a good idea. It was cutting the cords slowly,

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<v Speaker 1>like to sign it before we sniffed it. Still hurt badly.

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<v Speaker 1>It sound good. Did the kids know you were dating?

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<v Speaker 1>I don't think the kids knew we were divorced. Oh,

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<v Speaker 1>I thought we were going to get back together, and

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<v Speaker 1>we were clever, at least we thought we were. We'd

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<v Speaker 1>wait to the kids would go to sleep, and then

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<v Speaker 1>he would leave the warning you're just trying to figure

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<v Speaker 1>out how to salvage, because that's the thing. How do

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<v Speaker 1>you salvage? Would still there, which I think it's important

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<v Speaker 1>specifically when you have children, we assume that maybe the

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<v Speaker 1>kids won't notice, and when you get older, you go

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<v Speaker 1>with the kids know everything right. I felt shallow because

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<v Speaker 1>my husband's excessment and I broke up for money issues.

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<v Speaker 1>That's why you guys broke up. I found out had lupas.

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<v Speaker 1>At the time, I couldn't make money because I had

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<v Speaker 1>lupas and had to cancel the show. That was my

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<v Speaker 1>personal contribution to the marriage failing, because who wants to

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<v Speaker 1>take care of person who's sick all the time. He

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<v Speaker 1>never said that, but I felt it. I remember a

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<v Speaker 1>few times being in a hospital ill and he would

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<v Speaker 1>come later in the day or maybe the next day,

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<v Speaker 1>and I would think, oh, he's not coming because I'm sick.

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<v Speaker 1>I never really talked to my excessment about it. I

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<v Speaker 1>probably should have, but if I'm going to be completely honest,

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<v Speaker 1>it was money was just the decoration on the tree.

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<v Speaker 1>The tree itself was I felt because I was sick,

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<v Speaker 1>he left, so it gave me maybe insecure. I always

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<v Speaker 1>felt like if I didn't get sick and I could

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<v Speaker 1>have continued to work, we wouldn't have had that deficit.

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<v Speaker 1>It wouldn't have shown his face, I should say, and

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<v Speaker 1>we would probably have still been together. Got it? Yeah, Wow,

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<v Speaker 1>that's unfortunate. Yeah, you know the Red Table. I love

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<v Speaker 1>the Red Table. But the Red Table makes you emotional

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<v Speaker 1>when you get the talk about it and soothing at

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<v Speaker 1>the end. So did you have to pay alimony? Yes?

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<v Speaker 1>I had to be. I was of those girls. There's

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<v Speaker 1>this a couple of us. It's me that I know

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<v Speaker 1>of as Brittany. Remember it's Hallie mary Is allegedly. I

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<v Speaker 1>was very very angry about that, but it was because

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<v Speaker 1>we had an existing pre nup and postnup. Then what

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<v Speaker 1>made you angry about it? If if it has already

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<v Speaker 1>been in agreement? Because I wanted to Renege. I wanted

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<v Speaker 1>to Renege. I'm going to be honest, I got he

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<v Speaker 1>should say. Now, even though if it were reversed and

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<v Speaker 1>a guy had more, we would expect him to make

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<v Speaker 1>sure the lady's okay, right, we would expect that, And

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<v Speaker 1>so I can't really bitch about it too much. However,

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<v Speaker 1>semiicolon right, whoa tough that's a tough pill. Well, in

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<v Speaker 1>my divorces, I never got nothing from nobody, never asked

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<v Speaker 1>for nothing from nobody. Pose you had to pay somebody

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<v Speaker 1>that that would be mad I was. That's what I

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<v Speaker 1>was angry. I'm not doing that. I mean I went

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<v Speaker 1>through this phase like, oh man, the new bitches through

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<v Speaker 1>the whole phase. That's what I was so angry about,

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<v Speaker 1>like to get out the bed so I can pay

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<v Speaker 1>this debt for me personally, I'm not mature enough to

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<v Speaker 1>have a divorce. I'm just not. I don't think I

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<v Speaker 1>would ever be mature. Not. I don't. Because when when

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<v Speaker 1>you have to start going in breaking up, as said

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<v Speaker 1>right there, when you start having to divide things, separate,

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<v Speaker 1>cut off, let me tell you that's when the red

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<v Speaker 1>table turned upside down, and it won't be read no more.

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<v Speaker 1>This joke will be smashed and shambles like you know

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<v Speaker 1>what I'm saying. I don't know. I actually think it

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<v Speaker 1>takes more maturity to stay together and refined. But that's

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<v Speaker 1>a maturity I do have. You understand, like I know

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<v Speaker 1>what I can do and I know what I can't.

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<v Speaker 1>I actually have more maturity to figure it out within

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<v Speaker 1>and work with what I got. I've seen people try

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<v Speaker 1>to have some of the most friendly divorces and it

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<v Speaker 1>just at some point it's still painful. It's still painful.

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<v Speaker 1>My parents are divorced after thirt four years. That was

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<v Speaker 1>really tough on me and all my sisters and my brother.

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<v Speaker 1>They don't like each other m still, and then sometimes

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<v Speaker 1>the children feel divided. Even at my age, I don't

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<v Speaker 1>want to love my dad too loud in front of

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<v Speaker 1>my mom. That's the toughest part. And like I said,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm a grown woman. My parents divorced. That for thirty

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<v Speaker 1>four years. I was thirty two and my parents got

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<v Speaker 1>a divorce, and my parents divorce because of infidelity, and

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<v Speaker 1>my mom felt complete the trail the woman and me

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<v Speaker 1>understands what my mother is going through. Can imagine it's

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<v Speaker 1>one thirty four years and they go with someone else.

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<v Speaker 1>That trail you can't get yeah. Even now today, if

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<v Speaker 1>my dad and my mom are in this room, No,

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<v Speaker 1>my dad does little things, little cheap shots, and try to,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, make my mom feel some kind of way

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<v Speaker 1>via us. And then my mom would do little things.

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<v Speaker 1>You talk to your dad today. We don't want to say, yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>we talked to her, because I don't remember my mom's

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<v Speaker 1>you know, that was kind of a trail they be.

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<v Speaker 1>I often think if my think if my kids are

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<v Speaker 1>going through something to school with their grades, I would say,

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<v Speaker 1>my kids are doing this because of the boys. That

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<v Speaker 1>was the hardest part for me. I was blaming myself,

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<v Speaker 1>like I shouldn't have challenged the relationship. I should have

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<v Speaker 1>just stayed in it and made it work and figured

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<v Speaker 1>it out like I always do. How did you get

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<v Speaker 1>past that guilt? Every day? I still struggle because little

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<v Speaker 1>things come up with family with children. You had something

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<v Speaker 1>when You're one of your shows, which I love, is

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<v Speaker 1>one of my favorite shows, and you said that we

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<v Speaker 1>don't realize when we have children that everyone comes with

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<v Speaker 1>issues from their childhood, right And I said, I'm giving

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<v Speaker 1>my children issues right now. I'm giving it to them

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<v Speaker 1>like here on the plate. Here it is right there

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<v Speaker 1>a deficit in their lives like myself. But this deficit

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<v Speaker 1>I'm giving them, I have to figure I'm adding to

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<v Speaker 1>their pain and I hate that for my children. Did

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<v Speaker 1>I scar my kid? It's this the moment that I

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<v Speaker 1>scarred him. It's a tough thing as a parent, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>trying to figure out your happiness while you have children's

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<v Speaker 1>responsibility you feel towards their happiness. Yeah, okay, what would

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<v Speaker 1>you say you've learned? Because when I look at your divorces,

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<v Speaker 1>But you know what, here's the thing, though, I make

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<v Speaker 1>fun again, I'll make fun of gave me a lot,

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<v Speaker 1>the fact that she's been divorced three times. But I'm

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<v Speaker 1>gonna tell you something. You've actually had evolution. She had

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<v Speaker 1>like and this is why you can never judge people's journeys. Okay,

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<v Speaker 1>but she's had evolution. So my father was abusive and

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<v Speaker 1>they were young, so that wasn't gonna work. That was

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<v Speaker 1>no shock for anybody. I wasn't I was in high

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<v Speaker 1>school then. Yeah, I actually did not want that. You

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<v Speaker 1>didn't want that divorce? Wanted the divorce? Why did you

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<v Speaker 1>fight it? He didn't want it? Like, I'm not going

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<v Speaker 1>to fight to be with someone that doesn't want to

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<v Speaker 1>be with me. We both had issues with drugs and alcohol.

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<v Speaker 1>The marriage would not have lasted anyway. No, and that's

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<v Speaker 1>the thing. And then you got clean, and then Paul

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<v Speaker 1>came into your life, and he was such a stability,

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<v Speaker 1>you know. But as you grew in your sobriety, you

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<v Speaker 1>grow into song and people can't always come with you.

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<v Speaker 1>But doesn't make it bad. You start a relationship in

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<v Speaker 1>one way, these are the things that I want out

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<v Speaker 1>of a relationship. And at that particular point of time,

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<v Speaker 1>two people are in agreement. Then you grow or you

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<v Speaker 1>don't grow. People change, and then people's capacity can't always

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<v Speaker 1>keep up with the change, whatever that might be. I'm

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<v Speaker 1>beginning to see that because I didn't at first, because

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<v Speaker 1>I'm you know, I'm a whole school. I'm very Disney.

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<v Speaker 1>I love love, I love everything about being in love,

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<v Speaker 1>and I'm going to try. That's because I just not.

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<v Speaker 1>I just didn't give up. And Paul and I we

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<v Speaker 1>hung in there a long time. We went together over

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<v Speaker 1>it's of years. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't a

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<v Speaker 1>nasty divorce. I can remember flying home from somewhere and

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<v Speaker 1>just being angry because just feeling like, we could have

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<v Speaker 1>had such a great life together if you would, just

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<v Speaker 1>if you would, just you know, he always want somebody

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<v Speaker 1>to be something, something other than who you were, and

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<v Speaker 1>I think that was really the issue for him, is

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<v Speaker 1>that you don't really love someone if you're trying to

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<v Speaker 1>constantly change them. I just don't think he really appreciated

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<v Speaker 1>the woman that I was. I did not want to

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<v Speaker 1>go through another divorce. I really didn't know. My sister passed.

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<v Speaker 1>I had a cousin that passed, and I was like,

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<v Speaker 1>I can't do this. I can't. Life is too short.

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<v Speaker 1>I have got to be happy, and I was just miserable.

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<v Speaker 1>Partnering is a lot more than romance. It has a

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<v Speaker 1>lot to do with survival resources and just having somebody

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<v Speaker 1>or somebody's buy you that can help you figure it out. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>everybody needs that, you know, and it's only for you

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<v Speaker 1>to decide on how you need it and who you needed.

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<v Speaker 1>From Preach, I don't remember you asking me on an

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<v Speaker 1>episode that we did with Will, she was like, well,

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<v Speaker 1>why don't y'all just divorce? One of the ideas for

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<v Speaker 1>me is that we built such a beautiful community, we

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<v Speaker 1>built such a beautiful family, and our survival, we do

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<v Speaker 1>well together, and then breaking that group and community up

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<v Speaker 1>for me, it's just never an option. It's just like

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<v Speaker 1>no subtraction right and for me to add go right ahead.

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<v Speaker 1>But I don't see they I didn't think about that

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<v Speaker 1>idea with my last divorce. I never talked to anybody

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<v Speaker 1>and the family to that speaking of survival and group

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<v Speaker 1>since Paul had been part of this group. I have

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<v Speaker 1>my relationship with Paul and my kids that's the only

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<v Speaker 1>grandfather they've known, whether he's been an ideal one or not,

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<v Speaker 1>because in their mind, here's people. Now, she has her

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<v Speaker 1>ideas about it, but then they have theirs. I have

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<v Speaker 1>appreciation from two because he came into my mother's life

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<v Speaker 1>at a time where I was grateful because I was like,

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<v Speaker 1>she's good. That earns him at the table forever. I

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<v Speaker 1>didn't see the necessity for it. But that's what I

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<v Speaker 1>love about your situation. But that's what I love about

0:13:48.640 --> 0:13:53.280
<v Speaker 1>your situation, Tony, is that even though he he might

0:13:53.320 --> 0:13:55.720
<v Speaker 1>not have been the ideal husband for you, that you

0:13:55.840 --> 0:13:59.400
<v Speaker 1>still worked that family. Definitely, what has been your process

0:13:59.440 --> 0:14:04.240
<v Speaker 1>and that, oh it has caused friction and some of

0:14:04.320 --> 0:14:10.320
<v Speaker 1>my post situations because holidays it's me, the kids and

0:14:10.360 --> 0:14:14.000
<v Speaker 1>their dad. So you guys do do Christmas and Thanksgiving,

0:14:14.040 --> 0:14:18.760
<v Speaker 1>Thanksgiving holidays? Yeah together. He's an extension of my family,

0:14:18.920 --> 0:14:22.000
<v Speaker 1>not just because he's my kid's dad, but because he

0:14:22.080 --> 0:14:26.240
<v Speaker 1>was a part of my life. So we're we're family now, right,

0:14:26.720 --> 0:14:31.320
<v Speaker 1>And it's kind of tough blending families. Sometimes it gets

0:14:31.400 --> 0:14:36.640
<v Speaker 1>difficult Christmas morning waking up and my baby daddy's there.

0:14:36.920 --> 0:14:40.440
<v Speaker 1>But I find a lot of things I do for them.

0:14:40.480 --> 0:14:43.200
<v Speaker 1>They're boys. I don't know how to raise boys. You know.

0:14:43.240 --> 0:14:44.760
<v Speaker 1>I can teach them how to be a good person,

0:14:44.800 --> 0:14:46.200
<v Speaker 1>but I can't show them how to be a man.

0:14:46.960 --> 0:14:51.840
<v Speaker 1>And then we have your new fiance. A new fiance.

0:14:51.960 --> 0:14:54.720
<v Speaker 1>We are complete opposite. His name is Brian Williams, but

0:14:54.800 --> 0:14:57.800
<v Speaker 1>most people call him Birdman, and we've been friends for

0:14:58.240 --> 0:15:01.480
<v Speaker 1>sixteen seventeen years. A turning point in our relationship was

0:15:01.520 --> 0:15:03.720
<v Speaker 1>when I got ill and I was out on the

0:15:03.800 --> 0:15:08.000
<v Speaker 1>road touring and he came to every date every night.

0:15:08.040 --> 0:15:11.200
<v Speaker 1>He was there on the bus spelling behind me every

0:15:11.320 --> 0:15:15.960
<v Speaker 1>night just to make sure I was okay. That's amazing.

0:15:16.160 --> 0:15:19.080
<v Speaker 1>I felt someone was there with me. What would you

0:15:19.120 --> 0:15:21.880
<v Speaker 1>say that you've learned most out of that whole journey

0:15:21.920 --> 0:15:24.960
<v Speaker 1>with Carrie from the dissolved, the divorce, and then the

0:15:25.040 --> 0:15:31.000
<v Speaker 1>recreation of the relationship. Yeah. Well, I'm still learning. But

0:15:31.000 --> 0:15:34.040
<v Speaker 1>what I think I've learned most just that surrendering doesn't

0:15:34.080 --> 0:15:38.040
<v Speaker 1>always mean defeat. We will always have our children together.

0:15:38.240 --> 0:15:41.240
<v Speaker 1>It was a successful marriage where should lasted twelve years,

0:15:41.480 --> 0:15:43.920
<v Speaker 1>and that's what it was supposed to be. It doesn't

0:15:43.920 --> 0:15:46.800
<v Speaker 1>have to be infinity. He's in my life for infinity forever.

0:15:47.480 --> 0:15:51.080
<v Speaker 1>But that stage of the relationship does not define who

0:15:51.120 --> 0:15:53.560
<v Speaker 1>will be in the future. I think that's a beautiful

0:15:53.600 --> 0:15:58.000
<v Speaker 1>way to look at it. We're gonna bring the fish

0:15:58.000 --> 0:16:02.760
<v Speaker 1>bowl up. This is the fish bowls, both the fishball

0:16:02.840 --> 0:16:09.160
<v Speaker 1>It's like from our viewers, Monique from Nashville for Tony

0:16:09.280 --> 0:16:12.600
<v Speaker 1>and Gammy, what did you do with your wedding rings

0:16:12.800 --> 0:16:19.320
<v Speaker 1>and dresses after getting divorced? I kept them all everything?

0:16:20.160 --> 0:16:25.640
<v Speaker 1>Good for you? What's that mean what I'm saying? No, no, no,

0:16:25.760 --> 0:16:28.720
<v Speaker 1>I didn't have a gown because the first two times

0:16:29.160 --> 0:16:31.240
<v Speaker 1>I got married in the courthouse and we just had

0:16:31.280 --> 0:16:36.480
<v Speaker 1>a big reception afterwards. But in my third marriage, I

0:16:36.560 --> 0:16:41.000
<v Speaker 1>actually had two sets. Yeah, and he wanted both of

0:16:41.040 --> 0:16:45.440
<v Speaker 1>them back. Did you give them back? I absolutely did. Why.

0:16:45.640 --> 0:16:47.800
<v Speaker 1>That was what we had talked about if we ever

0:16:47.880 --> 0:16:50.600
<v Speaker 1>got divorced. We never assigned a pre nup or anything.

0:16:51.960 --> 0:16:54.880
<v Speaker 1>And he always said he wanted it back, and no,

0:16:55.040 --> 0:16:57.880
<v Speaker 1>he didn't get those backs. He worried if you were

0:16:58.160 --> 0:17:00.880
<v Speaker 1>engaged and broke it off. Let me say they're yours.

0:17:01.080 --> 0:17:03.280
<v Speaker 1>Maybe it's Elizabeth Taylor and me, but I wouldn't be

0:17:03.320 --> 0:17:05.760
<v Speaker 1>able to give back. No, No, those are mine. Who

0:17:05.800 --> 0:17:08.399
<v Speaker 1>gave them to me was word of the contracts. I

0:17:08.520 --> 0:17:13.879
<v Speaker 1>just like to look at them sometimes. Monica from Washington

0:17:14.000 --> 0:17:16.440
<v Speaker 1>for Tony. What's the most important thing you've learned from

0:17:16.440 --> 0:17:18.919
<v Speaker 1>your past relationships that you know will help you with

0:17:19.040 --> 0:17:29.480
<v Speaker 1>your current one. That's a good one. I will say communication.

0:17:29.640 --> 0:17:34.600
<v Speaker 1>You gotta be honest, I gotta talk. Yeah, you feel yes,

0:17:35.720 --> 0:17:38.520
<v Speaker 1>but you gotta feel free to do that. I didn't

0:17:38.520 --> 0:17:40.880
<v Speaker 1>have that in my third relationship because I don't think

0:17:40.880 --> 0:17:49.280
<v Speaker 1>we were really really friends, and I think that is important.

0:17:50.240 --> 0:17:53.160
<v Speaker 1>I feel like now I'm married to my best friend.

0:17:54.880 --> 0:17:58.920
<v Speaker 1>Katie from Memphis for Tony, you are now engaged at Birdman.

0:17:59.080 --> 0:18:01.600
<v Speaker 1>Did you ever consider a just being in a relationship

0:18:02.000 --> 0:18:07.880
<v Speaker 1>instead of a full legal marriage? Okay, I don't think

0:18:08.000 --> 0:18:10.280
<v Speaker 1>they don't want me to be They don't want me to.

0:18:10.840 --> 0:18:12.680
<v Speaker 1>But I'm used to people saying that because they don't

0:18:12.720 --> 0:18:14.800
<v Speaker 1>get him. They don't know him like I know him.

0:18:15.520 --> 0:18:18.439
<v Speaker 1>I get it, you get it. I do you willing

0:18:18.560 --> 0:18:21.840
<v Speaker 1>to have a bus follow me while I'm on tour

0:18:22.240 --> 0:18:27.800
<v Speaker 1>to make sure I'm good. I can't argue with that commitment. Yeah,

0:18:28.000 --> 0:18:30.520
<v Speaker 1>that's just that's that right of doctor. Yeah, not ride

0:18:30.560 --> 0:18:34.280
<v Speaker 1>with that. Bonnie from Virginia for Tony your sister Tamar's

0:18:34.320 --> 0:18:36.600
<v Speaker 1>divorce as well, what advice did you give her during

0:18:36.640 --> 0:18:42.080
<v Speaker 1>her divorce? Um? Nothing, got it? Just be happy? Yeah,

0:18:42.160 --> 0:18:45.440
<v Speaker 1>be sure because once you pour the divorce card, did

0:18:45.520 --> 0:18:48.440
<v Speaker 1>you say I want a divorce? She can't take it back.

0:18:49.680 --> 0:18:57.680
<v Speaker 1>That's my red table talk. Thank you, Sis, thank you,

0:18:57.200 --> 0:19:02.120
<v Speaker 1>Thank you too, gam thank you so much. On our

0:19:02.160 --> 0:19:05.160
<v Speaker 1>next red table talk, Jade and I have the same father,

0:19:05.280 --> 0:19:08.760
<v Speaker 1>different mothers, and he told me I'd rather get high

0:19:08.800 --> 0:19:12.679
<v Speaker 1>than be your father's I asked you, why didn't you

0:19:12.720 --> 0:19:14.960
<v Speaker 1>just toss me to the side when you don't need

0:19:15.000 --> 0:19:18.040
<v Speaker 1>people to be something for you? That was my AHA

0:19:18.240 --> 0:19:25.680
<v Speaker 1>moment of utter forgiveness. Get in their game. You know,

0:19:25.720 --> 0:19:32.240
<v Speaker 1>I got short arms. I'm here with my friend told

0:19:32.880 --> 0:19:41.600
<v Speaker 1>Brat and I shouldn't be seeing next step herb. We

0:19:41.640 --> 0:19:45.040
<v Speaker 1>had a good show with the boys. Hey, red table

0:19:45.040 --> 0:19:48.159
<v Speaker 1>Talk family. Head to our red table Talk Facebook watch

0:19:48.160 --> 0:19:51.679
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0:19:51.760 --> 0:19:55.359
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0:19:58.000 --> 0:20:01.840
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0:20:01.840 --> 0:20:04.880
<v Speaker 1>to this episode of Red Table Talk podcast produced by

0:20:04.920 --> 0:20:08.240
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