Love Archives

Love is the core skill and core need we all have. Many of us grew up in homes where love was conditional. If you behave this way I will love you. If you go against my wishes, I will exclude you from my love. This is not how love works. Love is universal energy, either you’re tapped into it and give it freely, or you are lacking in love.

I Want To Thank You for the Divorce: Moving On to What’s Next

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:July 5, 2015
Post category:Dating Depression Divorce Health and Fitness Joy Love Relationships Self-care Sex Single-Dad

It's already sounding snarky to me, but I have to give thanks to the mother of my children for releasing me from a marriage that had grown unbalanced and unhappy.…

Planning For the Future In Your Relationship

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:June 28, 2015
Post category:Dating Health and Fitness Joy Love relationship building Relationships Self-care Sex sexual chemistry Single-Dad

Stay focused in the present moment, but do allow yourself to dream and project into the future with your partner. Opening those doors of dreaming together has been a gateway of power for us.

Loving Again as a Single Parent is an Ongoing Leap of Faith

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:May 31, 2015
Post category:Dating Divorce Love Parenting Relationships Self-care Single-Dad

And as we radiate and recommit, as we lean in towards one another and take the leap of faith towards life-transforming love, we can see the effect our joy is having on our friends and family. And the kids, while still readjusting to our new configuration, are already showing warmth and enthusiasm around our together unit, which now includes a new partner for me.

The Benefits of a Happy Ex-Wife (Positive Divorce and CoParenting)

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:May 25, 2015
Post category:burn Co-Parenting Divorce Health and Fitness Love Married Life Parenting Relationships Sex Single-Dad

I will be in the process of recalibrating my life in relationship to my ex-wife probably for the rest of my life. Even after the kids are off and doing their own lives, there are always collective contributions that need to be made, adult advice that needs to be given, and we will never fully separate from the relationship.

Rising Again from a Depressed Silence: Dating a Divorced Dad

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:May 21, 2015
Post category:Dating Depression Health and Fitness humans of divorce Love Relationships Self-care Single-Dad

I learned that one person cannot keep a marriage together no matter how hard they try or how much they want to keep the family together. I was in agreement that things could not continue as they had been.

Massive Action: The Return Journey Begins Now

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:February 5, 2015
Post category:Co-Parenting deep space divorce saga Depression Divorce Health and Fitness Love Married Life Parenting Self-care Single-Dad

That's how the first home base became a hostile environment for both of us. We labored to keep the kids out of the fray and we began couples counseling two very different perspectives.

In Relationship with a Single Parent: Ground Rules

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:January 31, 2015
Post category:Co-Parenting Dating Health and Fitness Joy Love Relationships Self-care Sex Single-Dad

There are plenty of single parents who use their kids to get out of almost every obligation. Even obligations to themselves, for say... exercise, dating, taking responsibility for their own actions. And I have been the dad who apologized for checking his phone when a text dinged while on a date.

Love All Parents: The Single Parent’s Manifesto

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:January 19, 2015
Post category:Co-Parenting Health and Fitness humans of divorce Love Relationships Single-Dad

I wish my co-parent all the joy and love in the world. I can no longer provide any of those things. But I can be a soft cushion when she needs to hit or collapse into something. I resolve not to hit back. But, I won't stand-in for the drama anymore. I will only take my responsibility. I will only pay attention to the business between us as we continue together in co-parenting.