Ex Encounters-Coping With Graduation, Weddings, Recital Season

by , on
May 9, 2017
what does your gravatar say about you?

image by Erin Smith

Oh my, it’s graduation, wedding, and recital season around the corner. This means ex encounters (of the third kind) of many kinds. Perhaps you’re on good terms with your ex, or maybe many years have passed so you have this down…if so skip down to the comments and tell us how you do it. On the other hand,  if you’re not,  you’ll need to be ready for this possible barrage of social ex encounters. 

Making a New Home for You & Your Children After Divorce

by , on
April 2, 2017
Making a new home for you and your children after divorce

image source Dreamstime

One of the biggest changes during divorce is losing the marital home, which I have written about before here.

It’s a loss that isn’t easy to swallow for many couples who have taken pride in their home. Dare I say, they’ve considered their home something of a status symbol or a page out of a decorating magazine? That will all change. You’ll see though that what really matters isn’t the shell of a home but who and what is inside it.

Roots and Wings

by , on
March 26, 2017
Roots and Wings

Alana, me and Luke

They say if you raise your children right, you set their roots so they can later grow wings…or something to that effect. I’m thinking upon my son’s one year departure to Australia, that the wings may have grown too large, uplifting those roots. I guess that’s the idea though and no one is to blame

My Interview at Vishnu’s Virtues

by , on
March 19, 2017

Happy Sunday, Escapees. Today I’m over at Vishnu’s blog answering some burning divorce questions. I think you will find this an interesting interview and one worth sharing with loved ones who may be thinking about divorce right now. Here’s a snippet;

What led you to leave your marriage?

Well, I guess you won’t be surprised when I say it was multiple things rather than one event. It was many small and big things over many years that ultimately led to the demise of my marriage. I finally accepted my unhappiness at the core of my being and gave myself permission to accept that life wasn’t turning out the way I expected. I faced the fact that it had to change. I realized too that ending a marriage, knowing what we need in our life to live authentically, is a very personal matter.

10 Tips to Improve Your Post Divorce Christmas

by , on
December 14, 2016

 

10 Tips to improve your post divorce Christmas
10 Tips to improve your Christmas post divorce, is something I think will help anyone coping with co-parenting issues over the holidays. One of the most difficult times of the year for divorced and broken families is undoubtedly the Christmas Season.  Especially the first couple of years when it is a time for re-building and transitioning the new family unit.  What makes this even harder is having  to let go of old traditions.  Also, Christmas memories from before the divorce are still raw.  Due to these changes in family dynamics, the holidays become a challenge and a tug of war between households.  Neither Mom nor Dad want to be alone during this time and the children inevitably get caught in the middle.

Can We Go Home Again?

by , on
September 1, 2016
Can We Go Home Again?

Memory sketch of the back view of our old home

On facebook the other day, a divorced father and friend of mine (from one of the first divorce support groups I belonged to) posted an interesting set of photos. The status update read “went to see the old house today with the kids. We peeked inside the windows and went in the backyard. I planted that tree and look how big it is now.” He had some of his old photos mixed in with photos he took of the kids beside the tree today. I thought it was really great how he had images of 10 years ago and today, how the kids and trees had grown. Bitter-sweet, I think.

It got me thinking about my recent view of my old marital home, where my babies were born. I didn’t get to walk around and peek in windows. My view was a virtual one. I couldn’t see the back of the house but this sketch is from memory. It’s obvious I’m not an architect 😉 I must practice my sketching skills but I digress.

Recipes—An Arsenal of Love

by , on
July 5, 2016

“Food is an implement of magic, and only the cold hearted rationalist could squeeze the juices of life out of it and make it bland.” -Thomas Moore

fruit salad

For Non-Custodial Moms

by , on
April 23, 2016

for non-custodial momsWhy do moms lose  custody of their children? Furthermore, how does a mom cope when she loses custody of her children?

Well, there are many reasons it can happen. Addiction, neglect or abuse would be list toppers. In those cases, it makes sense for the welfare of the children. I’ve read blogs written by mothers who have given up their

A Look Back, 2015 At The Great Escape

by , on
December 15, 2015

a look back, 2015 I recently saw a post where the host, in review of her site, took the first post of each month of 2015 to look back on the year. I thought that was a fun way to summarize the year on a blog. I’m sorry I don’t have the name of her site…

2015 was an eventful year for me personally as well as here at the blog. One of the things that stands out in my mind is my attempt to take the “Year Of Happy” course. It was a fail. Not that I wasn’t happy in 2015 but around four

Behind Parental Alienation

by , on
October 27, 2015
Behind Parental Alienation

image source; creative commons

There are so many parents and children suffering out there from Parental Alienation. It’s tragic. I know this because my you tube video on the subject has too many responses…too many people are relating to this issue. Today, let’s take a look at what’s going on behind the scenes. What motivates the alienator to abuse their children by disapproving of their relationship with the target parent. Hint: Narcissism and PAS are often found in the same scenario…but not always.

CHECK OUT MY Youtube channel

https://www.youtube.com/@BagLadyJournals