The overwhelming issues surrounding your divorce include financial worries and a decrease in disposable income.  Suddenly one, or the same income is supporting two households.  Perhaps your support is inconsistent and often late.  The goal here is to get your budget closer to a ‘balance’.  You don’t have to be a financial wizard to take control.

Undoubtedly, one of the biggest challenges during divorce and in the initial stages of separation, is parenting. Parenting is a labour of love even in intact homes.  However, add divorce and it is  riddled with guilt, logistical obstacles, loneliness and tug of war.  If you’re experiencing any of this know you’re not alone.

We’ve grown up only to learn Cinderella’s carriage was a pumpkin to begin with.  Our foot never fit the glass slipper.  Sleeping Beauty ate a bad apple and maybe we took a bite from the same one.  We’re not in Kansas anymore!  Learning the fairy tale doesn’t always have that happy ending is a hard lesson, even for cynics.

What is divorce Month?   It’s a well known fact that more separations and divorces happen in January.  Even more break ups in less serious relationships happen this month, why?  January is the most dreary month of the year including the weather, the lack of daylight, the Christmas bills, and the lingering disappointments of the recent Christmas season. 

Unfortunately when we divorce, we divorce our in-laws as well.  Remaining on good terms can prove as challenging as remaining on good terms with your ex.

Once an in-law, now an out-law?

Our favorite; Charlie Brown and his famous tree

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. 

After being married with a family, it can be a huge adjustment to live alone or without a partner.  Suddenly, what was once a bustling household can feel empty, and the quiet unsettling.  This can lead to loneliness. 

I was having my Sunday night telephone conversation with my 17 year old son when I asked what he was going to dress as for Halloween, at school.  He told me he was going as a “Bad Husband”.  Oh, oh.  Was this a latent reaction to his father’s and my divorce?  So I asked him where he got the idea

I guess I’ll start at the beginning to blast off my new site and blog.  As you would have read in my bio, I made the most difficult decision of my life in 2005.  I made a decision to end my marriage.  It was not a decision I took lightly but when I made it nothing could change it back, that’s how sure I was about it.  Since then I have become stronger, wiser, more tolerant, less judgmental of others, happier, and more fulfilled.  Although I have gone through the stumbling blocks, including anguish, tears, anger and fear I have made it to the other side.  The point is it is not easy to accomplish freedom, but is worth every tear.

I was inspired to write The Great Escape; A Girl’s Guide to Leaving a Marriage partially as a form of therapy,