Dealing with Divorce
When Grownups Don’t Notice You
Did you ever pick flowers for your parents or other grownups when you were little? Or do you remember doing something else that seems silly and small now, but back then it put the biggest smile on their face? Maybe as a teen you feel like no matter what you do now it’s never right. …
Read MoreTo the Curb: Dealing with Divorce
It’s cold. It’s raining. I’m mad. Every Monday night I feel this way, because every Monday night I have to take the trash out to the curb. I’ve already done the other “manly chores.” I’ve been in the backyard and scooped the dog’s poop. (The dogs I never wanted, but now I adore.) I’ve put…
Read MoreAn Unbalanced Life: Dealing with Divorce
An Unbalanced Life I. AM. SO. TIRED. Andrew wants me to sleep with him. I would love to snuggle, but all I can think about is climbing into my own bed and watching the TV shows I’ve recorded. Part of me feels guilty. I want to be there for my child and help him feel…
Read MoreSeeing Things: Teens Dealing with Divorce
Have you ever noticed when you go into a classroom without assigned seating that everyone sits in pretty much the same place every time anyway? Do you do that? Do you have your favorite seat in math class, because it’s by your friend, and your favorite seat in Spanish class, because you can look out the window? I know lots of teens and adults who are this way.
Humans are creatures of habit.
If the teacher walks into the classroom and announces a new seating chart or that everyone has to move to the other side of the room, if you’re like most of us, you will moan and groan. Why? You can’t talk to your friend during class anyway. The other side of the room isn’t vastly different. Why do you feel like it’s a big deal?
Read MoreSeeing Things: Dealing with Divorce
All I wanted was to pull in my garage, walk in my house and go to bed. After a long day of traveling, I was so tired and couldn’t wait to go to sleep. I pulled in the garage, got out of my car and walked to the back door. I hit the garage door button, and the door began to close. Then it stopped. I punched the button again. The door went back up. I hit the button. The door began to lower and then went right back up.
Read MoreDivorced Parents: Dealing with Divorce
The mouse had a broken leg, and it was squirming on the concrete, suffering. A 12 year old girl stood over it cringing, holding a shovel in her hands, and feeling sorry for the little creature. She looked over her shoulder, through the kitchen window, and saw her mom cringing even harder. The girl didn’t…
Read MoreTies: Dealing with Divorce
I didn’t think about it until it was too late.
Andrew had to wear a tie to school.
It’s customary for the football players to dress up on game days. I knew this, but I had never equated “dressing up” to wearing a tie—a tie that Andrew didn’t know how to tie—until now.
Our lifestyle rarely requires Andrew to wear a tie, and in the past when one was required, he’s chosen a pre-tied bow tie. But now that he was in high school, he wanted to wear a regular tie.
It was 6:00 am, I am a single mom, his dad doesn’t live with us, and neither Andrew nor I knew how to tie a tie. In 15 short minutes, we needed to leave for school.
Andrew came barreling down the stairs, freaking out.
Read MoreGod Hates Divorce?
When I travel, I make sure I have time for breakfast, because I love waffles, and the hotel chain I like lets you make your own. When you travel as much as I do, it’s the little things that matter. Shortly after my divorce, I was sitting at a table eating when I overheard two…
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