Married Life Archives

Divorce Recovery: How Long Must We Stick to the Lie?

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:August 12, 2023
Post category:Anger Co-Parenting Depression Divorce humans of divorce Joy Love Married Life Money Parenting Relationships Self-care Single-Dad Spirituality

I don't want a single parent to get lost in the shuffle of divorce. I want fathers and mothers to have equal access to their children, even in the case of divorce.

Emotional Intelligence In Kids and Ex-Wives and Their New Husbands

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:August 11, 2023
Post category:Anger burn Co-Parenting Depression Divorce humans of divorce Married Life Parenting self-awareness Single-Dad Spirituality

Always respect the other parent. Keep fathers in their kids' lives by giving them half a chance to maintain that relationship. The same chance you have.

A Dad’s Path After Divorce Is Hard and Lonely

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:August 1, 2023
Post category:Anger Co-Parenting Depression Divorce Health and Fitness humans of divorce Married Life Parenting Relationships Self-care Single-Dad Spirituality

I lost everything in that moment. I lost my fighting spirit. I agreed to the Standard Possession Order (SPO) schedule and I agreed to let my wife be the custodial parent.

Losing the Meaning of Life As My Marriage Blasted Me Out of the House

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:July 28, 2023
Post category:Anger Co-Parenting Depression Divorce humans of divorce Married Life Money Parenting Self-care Single-Dad

Divorce is not the end of the world. However, it's often the end of most dad's major bonding and influence with his kids. Most divorces end with dads being marginalized by the family court precedents.

Divorce Retrospective: Getting This Off My Chest

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:July 26, 2023
Post category:Anger Co-Parenting Depression Divorce humans of divorce Married Life Parenting self-awareness Single-Dad

I walk away from this story knowing I did everything I could to keep the marriage alive. And after the divorce, I've done everything I can (outside of shutting down my writing) to be a good father, a good man, and a reasonable person.

Single Dad Writes to his 16-year-old Daughter About the Divorce

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:July 11, 2023
Post category:Anger Co-Parenting Depression Divorce Love Married Life Money Self-care Single-Dad

In the final settlement, I got something called the Standard Possession Order, which amounts to a split of time that works out to 30% for the dad, 70% for the mom. I was losing 2/3 of my time with you and your brother. My biggest fear was coming true.

Why Do Ex-Wives Feel Entitled? And Ex-Husbands Feel Victimized?

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:June 29, 2023
Post category:Anger burn Co-Parenting Depression Divorce humans of divorce Married Life Money Parenting Relationships self-awareness Self-care Single-Dad

You can't have kids by yourself. Your partner is just as important. Why would it be different when you no longer live together?

4 Relationship Requirements for Single Parents

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:June 26, 2023
Post category:Co-Parenting Dating Divorce Health and Fitness humans of divorce Joy Love Married Life Parenting relationship building Relationships Self-care Sex Single-Dad

Parenting is a spiritual journey that you enter when your kids are born. The relationships you have as parents may change over time, but your parenting is a huge part of what gives your life meaning. To me, my kids are everything. And to my partner, my love of their kids and their love of my kids, is unfathomable and wonderful when it happens.