Single-Dad Archives

Becoming a single dad was one of the most traumatic events of my life. I did not want the divorce, I fought against the divorce, and ultimately I agreed to collaborative divorce and was taken to the cleaners by an ex who decided to go for the “divorce package” rather than honor our 50/50 shared parenting agreement.

Finding the Happy Side of Difficult Divorce Street – FLIP IT

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:October 1, 2013
Post category:Anger Co-Parenting Depression Divorce Health and Fitness Joy Money Parenting Self-care Single-Dad

There is no time like the present to flip your anger into absurd, cackling, fake laughter. It's a known fact that your physical body doesn't really know the difference between real laughter and fake laughter. So if you give a big ol' Pee Wee Herman laugh, your body really thinks you are laughing. The endorphins and physical joy comes back into your system, fires up the happy side of your brain, and can bring you part of the way back to center.

Co-parenting Is Not Always Easy, But We Have a Choice

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:September 25, 2013
Post category:Co-Parenting Depression Divorce humans of divorce Money Self-care Single-Dad

So much of co-parenting is about negotiation and compromise. We no longer have the same loving emotional ties to our former partners. We no longer have to make their urgency and priorities our own.

The Divorce Ahead, Go Slow, Breathe

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:September 23, 2013
Post category:Co-Parenting Divorce humans of divorce Married Life Parenting Relationships Self-care Single-Dad

There will be time for anger. There will be moments when anger is the only way you can find to stand up for what you believe to be right. But the rest is up to you.

A Return to Wholeness After Divorce

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:September 21, 2013
Post category:Anger Co-Parenting Depression Divorce Health and Fitness humans of divorce Married Life Money Parenting Relationships Self-care Single-Dad Spirituality

In divorce, when you lose everything, what you still have is your kids. And while you are deep into the recovery of your own feelings, paying attention and parenting from a place of wholeness is critical.