Married Life

The Struggles and Fears About Divorce: Humans of Divorce

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:October 21, 2019
Post category:Co-Parenting Depression Divorce Drinking Health and Fitness humans of divorce Joy Love Married Life Money Parenting Relationships Self-care Single-Dad Spirituality

When I get in a tough place I try and picture my kid's faces. In the moment I am feeling upset, I can send them a "How's it going, I love you" text. I can SnapChat a silly face.

As Parents: We Do the Walk of Life

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:October 18, 2019
Post category:Depression Divorce Health and Fitness humans of divorce Joy Love Married Life mindfulness Parenting Relationships self-awareness Self-care Single-Dad Spirituality

That same hope and energy is present in my life, at the moment. I have an abundance of joy to share. Walking through the crowd of people on a beautiful day I could hold each of them in my hopeful prayer.

We Do The Best We Can and Still We Fail: A Marriage Requiem

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:October 17, 2019
Post category:Co-Parenting Depression Divorce Drinking Love Married Life Money Parenting Relationships Self-care Sex Single-Dad Spirituality

What is a young family to do? How can we learn to turn INTO the relationship rather than AWAY from it? In the nine years since my divorce, I've been writing and examining what went wrong. I've been trying to understand what kind of relationship I might be able to build that would sustain my idea of a lifetime partnership. And I've continued to examine how I could've done better as a partner.

I Wish You Well, and Absolutely Nothing Else: How To Forgive a Co-parent

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:October 16, 2019
Post category:Anger Co-Parenting Divorce Married Life Money Parenting Self-care Single-Dad

I am responsible for my actions alone. And my actions as a divorced dad have been 100% honest, 100% open, and 100% mom/kid-friendly. Her actions... Not so much.

My Love Message: No Worries, Just Desires

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:October 10, 2019
Post category:Co-Parenting Dating Depression Divorce Drinking Health and Fitness Love Married Life Parenting Relationships Self-care Sex Single-Dad Spirituality

And as we ask for and receive the love we need we are also going to have disappointments. My response in life, now, is "No worries, just desires." If my desires start getting squelched or compromised due to continual misses, then it is up to me to speak up.

Next-Level Parenting: Being Awesome Even in Divorce

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:October 6, 2019
Post category:Anger Co-Parenting Depression Divorce Health and Fitness Joy Love Married Life Money Parenting Relationships Self-care Single-Dad Spirituality

I wish I could've had more time with my kids. I wish my then-wife had agreed to 50/50 shared parenting. I wish my ex-wife would be a more collaborative parent. But even as I wish about these things, even as I can feel regret about the lost time, I am HAPPIER NOW THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN IN MY LIFE.

Men and Divorce with Children: My 9-year Retrospective

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:October 3, 2019
Post category:Anger Co-Parenting Married Life Money Parenting Relationships Self-care Single-Dad

I suppose a pound of flesh is tasty when it is grilled over a flame of resentment and anger. She is acting out of spite and vitriol at this point. Again, she got what she wanted and she still came after me with the AG's office.

Letting Go of Dreams Update – Celebrating The Whole Parent Year Six

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:October 2, 2019
Post category:Anger Co-Parenting Dating Depression Divorce Joy Love Married Life Parenting Relationships Self-care Single-Dad Spirituality

Divorce is not something you just "get over." And with kids, you never really get over it. I am learning to continuously forgive and forge ahead with my own life as a single dad.