Blog posts containing practical information and guidance for divorced Catholics.
When you are divorced or separated, there is no shortage of people telling you to “Look on the bright side.” Yeah, right! Much easier said than done. While they mean well, unless they have been in your shoes, they really don’t have a clue how difficult life can be. Well, I have been in your […]
When I was going through my divorce my counselor described grieving as a process. Typically it includes denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. The first time through this process usually takes the longest. Once you are through it, life seems to get better and your positive outlook returns. It is also very common for something […]
When recovering from divorce, it is just as smart to avoid doing the wrong things as it is to do the right things. One poor decision can be a major setback on the road to recovery. Here are six things you want to avoid: 1. Dating/Bars/Nightclubs After a divorce, you are very vulnerable. And who […]
My kids are so stressed out that two of my boys are pulling out their eyebrows.” Ellen said in between her sobs. She went on to explain that, while it had been over three years since her divorce was final, she and her former spouse were still viciously fighting with each other, many times in […]
The words, “Daddy, that doesn’t sound very good.” jolted me back into reality. My four-year-old daughter had slipped up behind me without my noticing. Quickly wiping the tears from my cheek, I turned around to see her sleepy eyes and her curly hair tossed into a bird’s nest. Clearly, I had woken her up. After […]
This is the third time this month you have been late picking up the kids. You are going to have to figure out a way to be more on time,” I said coldly. My former spouse just looked at me with a mixture of embarrassment and exhaustion. After the kids were gone and the house […]
The alarm clock started the usual morning routine by blaring its obnoxious tone. In my stupor, I fumbled for it and finally made it shut up. I was unusually tired, having had a very fitful sleep. The evening before, my wife dropped a bombshell on our marriage by telling me she was miserable and was […]
I vividly remember a day, about three months into my divorce, driving to my counselor’s office. I had been battling to keep my marriage alive for the prior two years, and, for the last three months, I had been witnessing its destruction, piece by painful piece. The emotional pain was so intense that it robbed […]
Before my divorce, I usually only prayed at Mass on Sundays and before meals. Once my divorce hit, it seemed like I was praying all the time. Well, that is, if you consider pleading praying. I was calling out (read: SCREAMING) to Jesus continuously throughout the day for Him to save my marriage. Most of […]
The low point in my divorce came on Christmas Day, 2000. My attorney (he is Jewish) called me to explain the latest legal strategy my former spouse was using in our very contentious custody battle. (Aren’t they all?!) It was bad enough that I was emotionally shattered from going through a divorce with three small […]