I was invited to attend the screening last month in LA but all opinions are truly my own.
I was in LA and was invited to attend the screening of The Light Between Oceans not really knowing the story line, nor having watched the trailer, which I normally do before attending screenings. I went totally in the dark, motivated for a chance to meet my long time online friend Marshall Weinbaum in person, which was totally the icing on the cake!!
What happened from the start of the movie was a turmoil of emotions, which touched me deeply and brought me back to my own life choices! That’s when you know a movie is successful, it’s when the story telling connects with you in a deeper way, giving a whole new meaning to your experience as a movie goer.
I have decided to tell you my own light between the oceans story, a very intimate and private story most of my friends and US acquaintances don’t know.
I had a child when I was 19 in Brazil. Very immature and living one of the worse times in my life, I was not ready to have that child. I also chose not to tell the child’s father I was pregnant, for so many reasons, always putting my son’s best interest first. After giving birth, I had to go to work to help my parents support my child and go to college at the same time, which was not easy. I felt cheated out of my youth, I was extremely unhappy with the way I looked, the life I was living and really not ready for motherhood.
My mom watched my son while I went to work endless hours as a store manager at a travel agency at the airport. My son’s affection and love for my mom grew deeper as I desperately tried to put my life together! We needed to add him to my dad’s health insurance when I turned 21, so we signed papers, giving my parents parental rights, all having my son’s best interest in mind. Choices I’ve made and don’t regret.
But every choice and every step seemed to separate us even further….then he turned 3. I was in a much better place financially and bought my own place, hired a nanny to watch him, but it was too late…he would cry endless nights, the same way I saw that little girl crying in the movie….he loved me but didn’t want to stay with me, even though I was his real mother. He wanted to go back to the mother he knew, the one who raised him. He was too young to understand my struggles and that I did most of what I did to be able to one day offer him a good life!
I once more, did what was right for him and let him go back and live with my parents. I’m not going to lie, that choice broke my heart, but I knew deep inside, it was the best for my son, so I did it!
Fast forward a few years later, I was engaged, ready to move to the US, my son was 9. I invited him to come with me and he said he was not going to leave his friends, his country and his family. My heart was once more torn apart but I didn’t force him, I did what was right and let him make his own choices. I allowed him to stay with my parents and live the life he chose to have.
Today, our relationship has been rocked to the point that we stopped speaking….his choice again, that I respected, even though I didn’t understand. We recently made peace in my last trip to Brazil and I hope it’s the first steps to opening his heart.
I know deep inside he blames me, I often think what if I had fought for him, what if I had forced him to stay with me….come with me to the US….what ifs don’t make our lives, our real choices do.
My son is 24, he will be graduating law school at the end of 2016, he has a loving girlfriend and still lives with my parents. Looking at his life, I feel the comfort that things happen for a reason and I’m happy for him!
When you watch the movie you will understand why the story touched me so deeply, stirring old emotions I thought I had buried inside of me! I truly hope the choices I’ve made or allowed him to make, will one day be understood by him and my light between oceans will show the way to having his trust and love back.
I cried all through the movie, comparing my story and choices with the ones lived by the characters. Bring your tissues, I know you will cry too!
After sharing my story, the first time I’ve done it on my blog, I want to invite you to watch “The Light Between Oceans”, which shares a story of a couple (Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander) who reside in an Australian lighthouse discover a baby in a boat along with a dead body. They decide to raise the child, a choice that leads to devastating consequences.
It’s a beautiful love story contoured by tragedy lived in a breathtaking environment! The beautiful ocean scenes and photography alone are worth seeing!
Here is the trailer:
I can’t wait to hear what you think about the movie and hope you’ve enjoyed reading a more intimate post on my blog! After all this Trendy Latina has more than shoes to share with you!
As usual, give us a Trendy Shout!
Thank you for sharing a piece of your story with us, Claudia. What a brave step. I just stopped to pray for complete reconciliation with your son, especially as he embarks upon starting a family of his own.
Oh wow Claudia, you sure had to make decisions that were so impactful at such a young age. Hopefully you have peace about everything these days in knowing that you did the best you could. I hope your relationship with your other son is what you want it to be now. Sending hugs, Stacie xo
I don’t want to see this movie because I know I’m going to cry. I’ve heard so many good things about it so I know it’s going to be one to watch.
I think I’ll have to wait until this movie comes out on DVD to see it so I’m not in the theater crying like a baby. Thanks for sharing your touching story on the blog. I enjoyed reading it and wish you and your son the best in the future.
I think I have to be in a specific mood for this movie – def a blanket how tea
This movie looks so sad! It will for sure be a good wine, blanket and movie to myself when it comes out!
These are exactly the kind of movies that I love to see myself. I am not sure if my husband is on board but I know I am.
Sounds like a really good movie. I love these kind of chic flick romance films and will definitely have to see this one.
I can not wait to see this movie!! It sounds like a really good movie to see in the theaters.
I can’t wait to see this! It sounds like something that will stick with you long after the movie is over. Plus I love Fassbender.
I want to see this movie, I will tell my boyfriend about this. I am so sure this is going to be a hit!
I would love to watch this movie. It’s awesome when you can watch a movie you can relate to.
Claudia – I cried as I read your story posted here. The choices we make as mothers are all too often heartbreaking, cutting us to the core. We are questioned, judged and most of all our biggest critics are always ourselves. But ultimately we must only be concerned with what God would have us to do, and walking in that path with His grace and guidance. It sounds like your son has had a very good life and is doing well. As he grows I know he will come to understand you did everything from love and from a heart that was willing to sacrifice much in order to give him the very best life you could possibly offer to him. Two of the hardest words in the universe are “what if”, and we can only make peace with God/ourselves over any decisions we made and then look forward to the future. Thank you for blessing us with your courage, honesty, transparency and loving heart by sharing your story here. I know it will help so many. God bless you with lots of love!!!!!
Oh my goodness, you made me cry. You are such a courageous woman. When I see the film, I will think of you.
The Light Between Oceans sounds like an awesome movie and I will can’t wait to see it. I have wanted to see it since I seen the previews. Wow reading your story made me tear up and I pray some day your son understands why you made the choices you did for him. It may happen when he has his own children or when he gets older with more life experiences. Thanks for sharing your personal story.
Thanks for being so brave to share that story with the world. It could not have been easy. I will definitely watch this movie.
Thanks for opening up your heart to share with others. I also can’t wait to see the movie!
I have this book sitting in my room, I can;t wait to dive in. Your story is a beautiful one, as moms we can only do what we feel in our hearts is best.
Now I’m anxious to see the film but Claudia… your story is heart wrenching. You’ve made the ultimate sacrifice and you did it all for love.
Thank you for sharing your story. None of those decisions were easy ones but sometimes as moms we have to make these hard choices!
I can’t wait to see this movie – I see a date night in my future with my husband. This movie sounds perfect!
That sounds like a really good movie. This is the first time I’ve heard of it too. I can’t wait for it to come out so I can watch it.
I am glad you made peace with your son. Your story is very interesting!
Thank you for sharing your story. I am looking forward to seeing this movie.
I have not heard of this movie before. It looks like it is going to be a great movie to see with a few girlfriends.
Claudia,
I know you and I know that story was a very vulnerable one for you to share. You were very brave to share it. You were very courageous to make the choice to do what was best for your son and only a mother’s love could do that. You are an amazing mom, wife and friend and I am sure that you and your son will reconcile.Thanks for sharing this story. I love reading this more personal essays from you.
Thank you for sharing your own story with us. You had me in tears. You truly are a strong woman. I definitely have to see this movie now.
I know you must feel lots of pain over that decision every day. I’m glad your parents were there for him though and that he grew up to be a fine young man!
Wow, thanks for sharing your story. I imagine it was difficult to do.
definitely on my must watch list now. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing your story. It takes a very strong person to do what’s right for their child, no matter what that may be.
Claudia, you showed great courage in putting your son first. Thank you telling your story. Hoping you have continuing and lastong peace with him.
K
Wow well that is quite the story! I am so glad that you did what was right for your son. I know you miss him terribly, and I think one day he will realize how much you loved him to let him stay with your parents.
Thank you for sharing your story, I can’t imagine that this was easy to write.
I can only imagine the impact this movie had on you! My daughter and I were emotional enough on Tuesday evening when we screened the movie here. Thank you for sharing your story and opening up about your own tough parenting choices. I hope you will receive lots of love today for being the strong, inspirational woman you are. I send you lots of hugs for making the choices you did thinking of your son and wanting what you believed was best for him – that is such a hard thing for many people to do. And please, keep sharing your life and your stories with all of us!
This movie looks incredible! I will definitely add it to my list!
What an amazing mom you are ! As mothers we have to make so many hard choices. You did what was best for him,I’m sure he realizes this as a young adult.im glad that you got to spend time with him and. Recconect . Hope your able to stay coned Texans thank you for sharing your story .
Wow! I love the way you wove your story into this. I really want to see this movie now!! I was crying reading this. Although I don’t know you well, I know enough to know you must have been sobbing through this movie. I would have been.
Your son is still young, but it sounds like your decision allowed him to achieve some great dreams. I hope someday he sees that and knows that a mother who loves a child enough to have her own heart broken so her child can live a better life was not selfish, but looking out for him.
I will keep this in prayer for you. I cannot even imagine living through that. xo
This sounds like a movie I would really enjoy seeing. I am all for the romantic genre.