Moms Moving On: Navigating Divorce, Single Motherhood & Co-Parenting.
By Michelle Dempsey-Multack
Moms Moving On: Navigating Divorce, Single Motherhood & Co-Parenting.Sep 08, 2020
Creating a Parenting Plan: What to Consider and What NOT to Forget: with Michelle's Husband, Family Court Judge Spencer Multack
Spencer is not only incredibly knowledgeable on all things "co-parenting," - he is FAIR and truly understands both sides and their needs when helping divorcing couples figure out the best way to create a parenting plan after their divorce.
I'm lucky to be married to him, and everyone who appears in front of him in court is lucky, too. He not only has the expertise in his profession as a former lawyer-turned-judge, he's lived the divorce process himself, and has been co-parenting for almost 5 years now.
The Hon. Spencer J. Multack, a graduate of Syracuse University and University of Miami Law School, once known for trying cases against public officials charged with corruption, was first appointed to the bench in 2011. Since then, he's presided over domestic violence issues, criminal cases, and now in the family court, all things divorce, co-parenting, and making the best decisions for the children involved.
How to Have a 'Good' Divorce (Even If Your Ex Isn't On the Same Page) with Sarah Armstrong, Author & VP of Global Marketing at Google
As moms, we all want the same thing when it comes to divorce - a good one, if there even is such a thing. We want the amicable divorce, the friendly "I want the best for you," relationship with our exes because we know that will ultimately benefit our kids the most. But sometimes, it's only one parent who is in favor of a good divorce, while the other parent chooses anger and ego over anything else.
In this episode of Moms Moving On, good divorce proponent and author of The Mom’s Guide to a Good Divorce, Sarah Armstrong and I chatted about what it means to have a good divorce, what it takes to put your child first, and how you can still have a good divorce even if your ex isn't on the same page.
This conversation will have you breathing a sigh of relief as you realize that your good effort will not go unnoticed by your kids despite what your may do or not do. In fact, your efforts will make ALL the difference in the lives of your children.
Sarah Armstrong is vice president, global marketing operations, at Google and proud mom of Grace, who is graduating from high school in 2021. She is a mentor to other women in business, and longtime volunteer at various nonprofit organizations, including Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation, Georgetown Alumni Admissions Program and Trinity Table Soup Kitchen.
Prior to joining Google, Sarah was a partner at McKinsey & Co. and worked at The Coca-Cola Company in global marketing for twenty years, where she led Worldwide Agency Operations across 200 countries. Sarah started her career at Leo Burnett (Chicago) in Media. Sarah’s work has been recognized around the world, resulting in her being named one of Ad Age’s “Women to Watch” and included in Ad Age’s Book of Tens (“Top Ten Who Made Their Mark in 2009”).
Sarah was raised in Birmingham, Michigan with two younger brothers and happily married parents (for over fifty years and still going strong). She attended Georgetown University, as a scholarship athlete, earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Business Administration with a major in marketing. She was a four-year starter on the Georgetown University Volleyball Team.
Sarah loves traveling the world and has been fortunate to travel to 55+ countries. She enjoys exploring new cities with Grace whenever possible. Sarah lives in Atlanta.
For more information, contact Mantra Public Relations at 212-645-1600.
https://www.gooddivorce.guide
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-madden-armstrong-5432887
https://www.facebook.com/SMAauthor/
How to Handle Divorce and Co-Parenting When You Have a Child with Special Needs; with Therapist and Attorney Rebecca Amster-Cantor
Co-parenting a child with special needs take a little extra care and attention, and so does making sure your divorce papers and parenting plan reflect that.
In this episode of Moms Moving On, Rebecca Amster-Cantor, a therapist, attorney, and the GO-TO for all things divorce and family related here in Miami, helps break down how to handle divorce and co-parenting when you have a child with special needs. We spoke about a wide range of topics including:
- How to ensure both parents follow the IEP
- How to ensure the child's needs are met in both homes
- What to do if they're not met, and so much more.
Always interested in children’s issues, Rebecca opened her own law practice in 2003, concentrating on the needs of children in Family Court. She rapidly began building her caseload and her reputation as a strong voice for children as a Guardian ad litem in Dissolution cases.
Rebecca returned to school and received her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University. Ever the academic achiever, Rebecca was the first student in Nova’s MFT program to receive a 100% on the Comprehensive exam.
Rebecca’s practice, as always, remains very focused on meeting the psychological and emotional needs of children, and of families in Family Court. Rebecca finds great joy and personal satisfaction in helping families seek new function and practical solutions so that parents can move on from the fatigue of litigation and move forward to enjoying their children every day.
You can learn more about Rebecca, here.
Tips for How to Handle the Divorce Process (and Your Ex's Ego) with Family Law Attorney Seth Nelson
The divorce process may seem scary, but top Tampa family law attorney Seth Nelson of Nelson Koster Family Law and Mediation is sharing his tips for how to make an otherwise unhappy process much less dramatic.
On this episode of Moms Moving On, Seth and I chatted about:
- Making the divorce process work for you
- Dealing with high-conflict, ego-driven exes
- What's worth a fight, and what really could be let go
One of the best tips Seth shared on this episode? "Live your life, not your divorce."
Seth Nelson is a Tampa based family lawyer known for devising creative solutions to difficult problems.
“I have been through a divorce and have a young child. As difficult as the divorce process can be, especially when there are kids involved, things will get better,” he said when asked about the divorce process.
At Nelson Koster, the motto is “Helping good people through difficult times.” This is Mr. Nelson’s aim in every case, though how he works to achieve it varies greatly with each family’s unique situation.
From an early age, he has always wanted to help people. After law school he found that he could do the greatest good by helping people through one of the most difficult times of their lives. Being a divorcee himself, as well as a father, he understands what you’re going through.
Mr. Nelson focuses on Florida divorce law, Florida family law, and Florida family law mediation. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida’s College of Law. After law school, he clerked for the Honorable John C. Godbold, Senior Circuit Judge for the United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Returning home to Tampa, he then worked for other Florida law firms before establishing his own practice in South Tampa. Since 2008, he has been the sole shareholder of Nelson Koster.
How to Explain New Relationships to Your Children After a Divorce; with Early Childhood Expert Evelyn Mendal, LMHC of Hatch and Bloom Co.
Getting divorced is hard, no doubt, but no ever tells you about how it might feel when you or your ex spouse introduce your children to a new romantic partner. There are questions, lots of them, and you'll want to know just how to answer those - especially if things don't go as planned.
That's why I brought Evelyn Mendal, early childhood expert, back to the podcast - no one answers these tough questions quite like her. And in the process, she'll make you feel better, too.
Evelyn is the founder of Hatch & Bloom, the company she founded to be able to help parents through their children's earliest stages of life. She offers 1:1 sessions, group sessions, and workshops/webinars that will make you feel like you aren't totally messing up this whole parenting thing.
How Your 'Daddy Issues' Affect Your Relationship and Parenting Styles - And How You Can Heal From Them With Erin Morrison, Conscious Parenting Practitioner
If you've suffered a strained relationship with your father in your childhood, it's only natural that you may have some issues with your personal relationships in adulthood. Commonly known as 'Daddy Issues,' a term often thrown around for laughs, anyone who has said issues know that they are no laughing matter as they can be deeply painful and leave lasting wounds.
Conscious Parenting Practitioner Erin Morrison and I bonded over the fact that we both share these issues, and have worked really hard to overcome them in order to improve our parenting and personal relationships. In this episode, Erin gives GREAT insight into how we feel from these issues and how we can heal from them as well. She is trained by Dr. Shefali and brings a whole lot of love and passion to her profession.
Erin Morrison, MA, EDM, CPMCP is a Conscious Parenting Practitioner who helps moms uncover why they find themselves in recurring patterns of unhealthy relationships with their partners, their children and most importantly themselves. Erin received her degree in Psychological Counseling from Columbia University and was trained in Conscious Parenting by the world-renowned Psychologist Dr. Shefali Tsabary. Erin uses a blend of western psychology, eastern mindfulness and a casual friendship-like partnership to help moms achieve the best feeling in the world: feeling comfortable in their own skin.
You can find Erin on instagram (@itstheconsciousmom) where she shares insights, support & her own personal experiences as it relates to conscious parenting.
Breaking the Toxic Relationship Cycle After Divorce with Psychologist and Couples Therapist Dr. Tracy Dalgleish
Breaking the toxic relationship cycle after divorce is critical to moving on in an empowered, productive way but can also be one of the most difficult things to do, especially if you've been in the toxic relationship cycle for years.
On this episode of Moms Moving On, I sat down with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, psychologist and couples therapist to examine why we fall victim to unhealthy relationship patterns, and more importantly, how to break the cycle.
Because you deserve a happy, healthy, and fulfilling relationship after divorce!
Dr. Tracy Dalgleish helps empower women and couples to improve their communication and build strong and healthy connections with themselves and their relationships through therapy, wellness seminar, and her work outside of the therapy room.
In addition to hosting the podcast, “I’m not your shrink” where she dives deeper into clinical knowledge and research in a relatable and informal way, she has an online community, Be Connected, that helps women learn the key skills and tools she teaches her clients in her office every single day.
A mom of two young children and owner of Ottawa’s mental health clinic, Integrated Wellness, she knows what it means to balance the full load.
Follow Dr. Tracy's amazing Instagram account, here.
Being the Best Co-Parent You Can Be and Shattering Co-Parenting Myths with Certified Life Coach Mikki Gardner
If there's one thing us mamas strive to be after divorce, it's the very best co-parents we can be, despite the often challenging and rocky road of co-parenting. I invited Certified Life Coach Mikki Gardner to help us debunk some co-parenting myths and explain the power of conscious co-parenting, and incredible strategy designed to protect both you and your children throughout the divorce and co-parenting process.
At the end of the day, we can only give what we have, as Mikki shares, and our children deserve for us to do the inner work it takes to get us to a healed, more conscious place.
Mikki Gardner is a certified Life Coach and Conscious Parenting Coach. She is a mom to 3 boys (her son and 2 bonus sons) and 2 dogs. She co-parents with her partner, her ex husband and his wife.
Mikki has a private one-on-one coaching practice where she helps single moms become strong, loving, effective co-parents and build resilient, joy-filled lives after divorce; without feeling isolated and alone.
Join Mikki's Facebook group here and be sure to follow her on Instagram.
Should You Change Your Name After Divorce? The Hitchswitch Website Makes It Easy to Be Out with the Old and in with the New You.
Until Hitchswitch.
Hitchswitch makes changing your name after divorce as easy as clicking on the website, filling out a few forms, paying a very low fee, and voila - name changed, without having to wait in line for hours at the social security office downtown. What's more? They can do the same for your passport too - talk about a win, win!
Here are the details...
Since the founding of HitchSwitch, the team has had the pleasure of guiding hundreds of thousands of newlyweds through the name change process. HitchSwitch currently offers three unique name change services:
1. Platinum ($99.99): Our team will ship printed name change applications that have been auto-filled with your basic information, a set of corresponding instructions that will explain how to submit each application, and pre-paid envelopes for any steps that can be submitted through the mail. Platinum clients also receive a dedicated account manager and a free passport photo (which will be redeemed through our sister site "NewPassportPhoto.com").
2. Full-Service Package ($69.99): Our team will ship printed name change applications that have been auto-filled with your basic information, a set of corresponding instructions that will explain how to submit each application, and pre-paid envelopes for any steps that can be submitted through the mail.
3. Print at Home ($39.99): You'll have immediate access to name change applications that have been auto-filled with your basic information and a set of corresponding instructions that will explain how to submit each application via an online dashboard.
Please note that all of our name change packages include all of the same forms. The price variance is due to the level of service clients request with their HitchSwitch purchase. For example, Print at Home clients are DIYers who have access to a printer and can go about the name change on their own, while Full-Service and Platinum clients need a little more TLC from the HitchSwitch team!
Check them out here, and make sure to use code Michelle10 to save! Happy name changing!
Creating Your Best Life After Divorce, both Personally and Professionally, with Career and Divorce Coach Andrea Javor
Andrea Javor is a magic maker - she's not just coaching women through their divorces, she's helping women find their "happily better after" when it comes to their careers after divorce as well. In short, she's the full package.
In this episode, we dug deep into the questions every woman must ask herself when faced with starting life over after divorce, and touched on the secrets to what it takes to get back to your happiest self, personally and professionally - and it all starts with breaking free from the constructs of what you're familiar with.
Andrea Javor is an inspirational speaker and transformation coach. She helps professional women get clear on their purpose so they can experience higher personal fulfillment at work and at home. Andrea has navigated Fortune 500 companies for 20+ years as a corporate marketing executive, is a CDC© Certified Divorce Coach and a Career Development Coach. The host of Until There Was Me™, The podcast, Andrea has spoken at Fortune 500 events and has been featured in Money, Coveteur, Authority, and various news and podcast programs.
Follow Andrea on Instagram here, or email her for more info!
The Important Lessons We Learn From Our Exes with Author Karen Stanley
The second we can shift our perspectives from how much our first marriages hurt us to how much we learned from them instead, a whole new world opens up for us divorced women. This is the trick that Karen Stanley, author of Becoming Mrs. Stanley, harnessed back when her first marriage ended, and now she's teaching women all over the world how to use their exes as their greatest teachers.
Karen Stanley is an entrepreneur, professional Mezzo-Soprano, speaker, blogger, yogi, hiker, mom, wife and laugh-way-too-loud-er. As Amazon’s #1 mate seeking, new release author and frequent self-improvement podcast guest, she explains it best herself: “Hi, I’m Karen! I’m not a doctor or a psychologist. I was a single mom for a thousand years (OK, eight), and I finally attracted real love after divorce, bankruptcy, foreclosure and repossession of my car – all while raising two kids alone. After struggling with self-worth and attracting the wrong partner time and time again, I realized if you want to create the life and relationships you’ve always wanted, you must become the person you’ve always wanted to be. As I continued to create and believe my worth, people who didn’t enhance my life were no longer interesting, and I was no longer attracted to them. And, I wasn’t attracting them either. I believe no matter what we’ve gone through, everything we truly want in life is created by first loving and believing in the girl in the mirror. And now I’m sharing the strategies that helped me do that!” She writes a weekly blog on MrsKarenStanley.com and has a weekly-ish newsletter, and you can find her on Instagram @officialmrskarenstanley.
Here are the links to snag her book!
https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Mrs-Stanley-Single-Attracting/dp/198222683
https://www.audible.com/pd/Becoming-Mrs-Stanley-Audiobook/B093JTCWTF
https://books.apple.com/us/book/becoming-mrs-stanley/id1516654591
Why Men Cheat, The Truth About His Relationship with Dolores, and How They Put Their Kids First Even After Infidelity, with Real Housewives of New Jersey's Favorite Husband, Frank Catania
It's no secret that Frank Catania is everyone's favorite New Jersey House-husband, well, ex-husband. As the world's best ex-better-half to Dolores Catania, the world has watched this couple, who has split up over 20 years due to Frank's admitted infidelity, have each other's backs like its nobody's business.
Not to mention, they co-parent their kids Frank Jr. and Gabby like champs.
After chatting with Dolores a few months back, she insisted I interview Frank to get to the bottom of why men cheat, and why, more particularly, he made the mistake that ended their marriage. He also got candid about how it affected his relationship with his children, and the work he had to do to make things better.
So I asked, he answered, and he also shared some really juicy tidbits about his beautiful relationship with his ex-wife, his future role on the Real Housewives of New Jersey, and maybe even a little gossip about some of the other couples on the show - wink, wink. Oh, and let's not forget *that* story about the shore house!
Listen now and don't try to tell me this man isn't a gem - and hasn't learned and grown from his mistakes! WE LOVE YOU, BIG FRANK!
Stepping Into Your Power After Divorce, with Oprah-Endorsed Clinical Psychologist and NYT'S Bestselling Author Dr. Shefali Tsabary
"There is no freedom greater than a woman who is finally going to honor her authentic self," Dr. Shefali shares on this episode of Moms Moving On, and we couldn't agree more.
As a world-renowned clinical psychologist, thought leader, author, and expert in personal development, Dr. Shefali has become somewhat of a guru for so many including Oprah. And now, as a divorced woman, she is sharing what it means to have a radical awakening as a woman, and detailing it all in her brand new book, out today, A Radical Awakening.
Listen now for Dr. Shefali's tips on turning pain into power after divorce, and make sure to follow up by reading her brand new book, a 5th in a line of books that includes two New York Times bestsellers, "The Conscious Parent," and "The Awakened Family,".
Dr. Shefali received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Columbia University. Specializing in the integration of Western psychology and Eastern philosophy, she brings together the best of both worlds for her clients. She is an expert in family dynamics and personal development, teaching courses around the globe. She has written four books, three of which are New York Times best-sellers, including her two landmark books The Conscious Parent and The Awakened Family.
Mental Health and Divorce, and Taking Control of How You Feel As You Hit A Breaking Point in Life; with Melissa Bernstein, Co-Founder of Melissa & Doug Toys
Imagine not knowing who you truly are or feeling like you're living life for everyone BUT yourself - that's exactly how Melissa Bernstein, co-founder of Melissa & Doug toys, felt for almost half of her life. In honor of Mental Health Awareness month, we had an in-depth conversation about her struggles with her own mental health, not being able to feel a sense of purpose or happiness, and what led her to writing her first book, LifeLines.
Since taking a journey inward, Melissa has not only been able to heal from her existential depression, she's built an entire community devoted to helping others heal as well. With her book, LifeLines, you'll be taken on a visual journey through a symphony of prose, poetry and photography.
This episode really dives deep into how we change as women, over time, once discovering who we really are, and Melissa's candid honesty is as refreshing as it is impactful.
Learn more about Melissa Bernstein, her new book, and her community, here.
How to Get Divorced Peacefully (Even When You Have a High-Conflict Spouse) with Hello Divorce Founder Erin Levine
No matter how much you might want a divorce, no one wants an all-out, knock-down, drag-out fight in the courtroom. That's where Erin Levine comes in, the queen of helping couples get divorced peacefully, with some really solid advice and insight that will challenge all of your misconceptions about what divorce might look like for you.
After 15 years advising clients, litigating, negotiating and mediating contested and cooperative divorces, and running a respected boutique family law firm in the Bay Area, Erin became a bit disenchanted with the family law process and how it it would pit spouses against one another. Not being one to shy away from a challenge and being comfortable as the “underdog,” she set out to create an online, ethically compliant, divorce process for uncontested divorces - Hello Divorce.
Hello Divorce has become the convenient, efficient, divorce option for (ex) couples who want to transition out of relationship without the expense and drama ordinarily associated with divorce. Learn more about their easy online process, here.
Oh, and don't forget to check out the amazingly honest and funny Hello Divorce Instagram account, here.
Leaving an Emotionally and/or Physically Abusive Marriage; Tips from Top Divorce Attorney Sabrina Shaheen Cronin
Wondering how to leave an emotionally and/or physically abusive marriage? There are some critical steps to take before you do, as explained by top Michigan divorce attorney, Sabrina Sheehan Cronin, owner and founder of The Cronin Law Firm.
After spending years as a prosecutor, Sabrina found her passion in helping, empowering, and protecting victims of crime. Sabrina truly desires to make a lasting and positive impact on every person who walks through the doors of her firm, which is why she was the perfect person to interview in regard to leaving an abusive marriage.
Her professional experience is distinctive and varied. She began as an associate attorney for a large civil litigation firm, where she practiced bankruptcy law, civil litigation, family law, and medical malpractice defense. From there she moved on to an insurance defense firm, where she continued to handle a variety of litigation matters, including medical malpractice and family law. She was also General Counsel for a Professional Employer Organization, handling human resources, employment law matters, and litigation. Sabrina then took on the position of Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office before opening her namesake law firm.
Divorce: You Have the Right to Feel How You Feel, with Author and Psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Cohen AKA The Divorce Doctor
Feel your righteous anger, own it, and learn how to deal with it so that you can move on from your divorce in a healthy, emotionally evolved way with none other than 'The Divorce Doctor' herself, clinical psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Cohen.
Dr. Cohen received her PhD in clinical psychology from Boston University. As part of her graduate training, she treated clients at the world-renowned Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders in Boston, MA.
Dr. Cohen was the recipient of the prestigious American Psychological Foundation Research Award for her doctoral research. Following her time at BU, Dr. Cohen completed her pre-doctoral internship at Bellevue Hospital Center and the New York University Child Study Center. After completing her training, she was asked to become the Director of the CBT program at Bellevue’s Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic.
Dr. Cohen has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, NBC News, Women’s Health, Huff Post, Thrive Global and, Good Housekeeping.
Learn more about Dr. Elizabeth Cohen, AKA, the Divorce Doctor, her new book - out now, and her amazing online course, here.
Helping Kids Cope with Divorce and Co-Parenting with Certified Child Life Specialist Randi Jaffe - Known for Taking the Fear Out of Life's Scary Moments
We spend a lot of time worrying about how we'll cope with divorce and co-parenting, but, wait, how are we helping our kids cope with divorce an co-parenting?
The notion that kids are resilient and adaptable is great and all, but we have to give them the tools to be able to find their resiliency and adaptability, especially through divorce and co-parenting. We have to help them take the fear out of life's scary moments.
This is where Certified Child Life Specialist Randi Jaffe comes in. Randi has been helping children cope, adjust, and transition to all sorts of life changes for almost 15 years now - and she is as insightful and knowledgeable as she is warm and kind.
As the founder of Kid Cope Specialists, Randi hopes to positively influence her community and many others by providing practical and helpful tips for parents, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals working with kids.
Learn more about Randi's services here, and make sure to follow her on Instagram for helpful tips and strategies for your kiddos!
Making Divorce, Co-Parenting and New Relationships Work When Your Kids are Teens: A Candid Chat with Katie Bingham-Smith
For four years now, author and co-parenting mom Katie Bingham-Smith has written for a multitude of motherhood publications on the struggles of divorce and what it's like to co-parent two tweens and a teen.
And now, she's sharing her whole experience with us on the podcast.
From how to have the difficult divorce conversation with your tweens and teens to making co-parenting work with new relationships in the mix, Katie talks open and honestly about her entire divorce experience.
Katie Bingham-Smith Is a single mom to three teenagers and freelance writer. You can see her work on Scary Mommy, Grown & Flown, Momdotcom, The Girlfriend, Momtastic, as week as many Maine magazines.
You can follow her on Instagram @katiebinghamsmith
How to Shelter Your Kids From the Effects of Divorce? Love Your Child More Than You Hate Your Ex, with Author and Psychologist Dr. Larry Waldman
How to Shelter Your Kids From the Effects of Divorce? "You have to vow to take the high road," Dr. Larry Waldman shares, and most importantly, "you must love your child more than you hate your ex.
In this episode of Moms Moving On, we talk about the importance of keeping the divorce drama between the adults only, and protecting our children at any cost - regardless of how high tempers are flaring or how bruised an ego may be.
If you want your children to survive divorce without long lasting trauma, it's the only way.
Dr. Larry Waldman is a top Phoenix-area psychologist and a 7x author. He conducted a highly successful private practice of 45 years working with children, teens, parents, couples, and adults in a solution-focused manner. He also consulted with family, personal injury, immigration and estate planning attorneys. His BS in Education/Psychology was from the University of Wisconsin; his MS in School Psychology was from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; his Ph.D. in Educational/School Psychology was earned at Arizona State University; and his Diplomate (ABPP) was received in 2003.
His latest book, Love Your Child More Than You Hate Your Ex, is a must-read for any co-parent new to the divorce game.
Learn more about Dr. Waldman, here.
Former Real Housewife of OC's Meghan King Talks Life After Divorce, Learning to Trust After Infidelity, and Co-Parenting 3 Children with Ex Jim Edmonds
Your most requested podcast guest EVER - Former Real Housewife of OC's Meghan King - joins us on the podcast to talk life after divorce, learning to trust after infidelity, and co-parenting three children with ex Jim Edmonds.
Divorce after earth-shattering infidelity is hard, but living it publicly? That seems downright impossible - yet our podcast guest has handled her transition into single motherhood after a painful divorce with nothing but class, grace, and realness - and we love her for it. Meghan King, formerly of the RHOC, lived a very painful and very public divorce from ex Jim Edmonds who she now co-parents three young children with - one having recently been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. She's inspiring, hopeful, honest, and all of the things you love her for - and she bared it all for us while on vacation by herself in the jungles of Mexico in between diving, hiking, and even a visit from a raccoon in the forest.
Meghan King is a writer, podcaster, and lifestyle inspirer. She’s also a single mom, twin mom, and mom of a son with CP. Meghan is best known for her resilience, positivity, and ability to turn lemons into lemonade after experiencing drastic change and trauma in the public eye. She was also a former cast member on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Orange County. Follow Meghan's incredible journey, here.
Understanding Your Triggers and Making Sure They Don't Play a Role In Your Post-Divorce and Co-Parenting Life, with Psychotherapist and Award-Winning Author Dr. Ilene Cohen
Understanding your triggers can mean the difference between a peaceful life well-lived and living in a constant state of anger and resentment. Does your ex seem to trigger you in all the worst ways, all of the time? Same, or at least this used to be the case, before I really did the work to honor my traumas and truly understand what had the power to trigger me. Like with anything else, when it comes to understanding your triggers, knowledge really is power.
That's why I had Marriage and Family Therapist Dr. Ilene Cohen - 3x award-winning author, and mom - join us to talk about all things related to feeling triggered, how to stop feeling so triggered, and how to make sure your triggers don't ruin your post-divorce and co-parenting life. Trust me, this is good stuff.
Dr. Ilene S. Cohen, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist, author, and mother of two animated young girls. She is one of the most respected voices in the psychology of people-pleasing and navigating the difficulty of living an intentional life while trying to maintain fulfilling relationships. She is the author of 5 books, all of which have received awards and 5-star ratings from her readers. These include her most famous book, When It’s Never About You, and her new book, Anxious for Answers. She’s a regular contributor to Psychology Today, with dedicated readers numbering in the millions. Her books and therapy practice are fueled by a passion for helping people achieve their goals, build a strong sense of self, and lead fulfilling and meaningful lives. As president of her family’s foundation, Dr. Ilene oversees various initiatives geared toward creating better opportunities for those in need.
Follow Doctor Ilene's super-inspiring Instagram
Check out her books (I've read all three)
Handling Divorce Like a Boss, with Boss Mom Community Founder Dana Malstaff
She founded the wildly popular Boss Mom community. Her business continues to thrive and grow and affect the lives of thousands of women. Somewhere in there, she got divorced - but that didn't throw her off course - it simply changed her and fueled her fire even more.
Dana Malstaff is a boss in every sense of the word, and in this episode, she's sharing with us how she has handled her recent divorce and continued on thriving, despite the transition into a whole new life with two children in tow.
Dana Malstaff is the founder and CEO of Boss Mom, a community of passionate moms and entrepreneurs. Dana is a mother but also a brand and content strategist, podcaster, author, speaker and coach. Learn more about this amazing woman, here.
Adjusting to Single Motherhood, Co-Parenting, and Dating After Divorce with Maria Hunt of Unicorn Moms
How the hell am I going to survive after divorce? Can I do this? Can I take care of myself? And what about co-parenting? If you've ever asked yourself any of these questions, you've come to the right place, because Maria Hunt, the brains behind popular Instagram account Unicorn Moms, shares her story and more.
Maria is a single mama of two boys living in California. After leaving the corporate world, she founded Unicorn Moms, an online and real world social community conceived and created to give and get the real-scoop on anything and everything “Mom,” from the miraculous benefits of coconut oil to the number of shots it takes to ovulate. "It’s truly a movement of moms who fully support one another; we do not allow “judgeiness,” “mean-moms,” or negativity. More than just moms talking about mom-stuff, we also love to meet, have fun and laugh! We have grown to over 300K across all social media and have state wide groups as well. Come and join our community."
Talking to Your Kids & Your Family About Divorce with Family Law Attorney Eva Kogut
Talking to our kids about divorce is important - but also, slightly confusing and overwhelming, if we're being honest. That's why we're chatting with Chicago-based Family Law Attorney Eva Matela Kogut of Kogut & Wilson.
In this episode of Moms Moving On, we're talking about:
- How to broach these important conversations with our kids
- How to get on the same page with your ex when it comes to the kids
- What to say to your family
AND MORE!
Eva is an award-winning family law attorney who is committed to helping people achieve the best possible results in their personal circumstances. She is available to address how unique family challenges may be resolved and what each path may look like by educating on the different approaches available in order to best meet a family’s unique needs.
Eva is trained in litigation, mediation and collaborative divorce, the latter of which is a process she believes is often a great alternative to the traditional divorce process. You can learn more about Eva, here.
Real Housewives of NJ's Dolores Catania Gets Candid About Her Unique Co-Parenting Relationship, Surviving Infidelity, and Putting Her Children First.
For us divorced mamas though, it's always been her fierce commitment to co-parenting and putting her kids first that has kept her on our short list of favorite Bravo housewives. Her kids being the reason, she says, for choosing to let her ex-husband live with her despite his infidelity that ruined their marriage.
"Someone's always gotta be the bigger person in divorce," Dolores shared. And that might be the best co-parenting advice we've received yet.
Dolores Catania is a mother, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and the living embodiment of a modern-day housewife. She has worked tirelessly to ensure a cohesive family unit with her two children and ex-husband turned business partner, Frank. With her daughter, Gabrielle, studying in veterinary school and her son, Frankie, away at college aspiring to be an investment banker, “Dolo” keeps herself more than busy with work, her many rescue pets and by fueling her passion for helping the community. Staying true to her humble beginnings, she earned the key to her hometown of Paterson, NJ for her deep commitment to improving the city. Her involvement with organizations such as St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, Maimonides Breast Center, Halfway Home Animal Rescue Team, Angels for Animals Network, multiple local women’s and children’s shelters helps her live out her motto of “everyone has something to give.”
Online Dating After Divorce: How to Optimize Your Profile and Feel Your Most Confident with Dating Coach Melanie Hersch
The dating app profile picture - how much is too much? The dating app profile bio - less is more or tell all? How do I get past the fear of putting myself back out there again? In this episode of Moms Moving On, psychotherapist-turned-dating coach Melanie Hersch helps answer all of those online dating questions that so many divorced mamas and more.
Melanie Hersch is a psychotherapist turned dating coach who teaches singles how to rewire the unconscious patterns that have been preventing them from having the love they want.
Melanie believes that dating and relationships are some of the most powerful catalysts for personal growth. Her approach isn't focused on how to 'get' the person you want... but on how to become the person who easily attracts love in. Her unique approach blends psychology, spirituality, and energetics to help her clients increase their self esteem, know their worth, and easily attract healthy love into their lives!
Her work has been featured in Oprah's O Magazine.
Click here to learn more about Melanie!
Going Through a Divorce as a New Mom with Motherhood Understood's Jen Schwartz
New motherhood can be a scary world for some - even scarier if you're also facing divorce at the same time. Jen Schwartz, the postpartum depression warrior behind Motherhood Understood, joins us to chat about dealing with some pretty heavy emotions many women face as they ease into motherhood and divorce at the same time.
Jen Schwartz, also known as “the medicated mommy,” is the founder and CEO of Motherhood Understood, a platform, community, and story-sharing hub for women affected by pregnancy and postpartum mental health issues that she created after surviving postpartum depression and anxiety with the birth of her son, and realizing just how many mothers suffer in silence like she did. She built Motherhood Understood to provide women and their families with education, resources, connection, and support so that no mother has to experience a mental health illness in isolation and all mothers get the help they need to feel well and thrive in motherhood. Jen is a professional speaker, writer, moderator, consultant, spokesperson, and thought-leader committed to shining the light on the darkest of places, where maternal mental health taboos have been hiding out, trying to make mothers believe they are not enough and all alone. In addition to running Motherhood Understood, a highly-engaged community of over 93,000 women, Jen recently launched Maternal Mental Health in Minutes, an educational video library breaking down pregnancy and postpartum mental health illnesses and their treatments. Her work and expert commentary can be found all over the mommy blogosphere and on popular websites such as Forbes, Healthline, The Mighty, Romper, Motherly, The Bump, Happiest Baby, and more.
Follow Jen here.
When to Salvage the Relationship, When to Let It Go, and How to Communicate Through It All with VH1's Couples Therapy Host Dr. Jenn Mann
For years, Dr. Jenn Mann, author, psychotherapist, and host of Vh1's Couples Therapy, has helped couples figure out how to heal, how to move on, or how to heal AND move on.
In this episode, she's sharing tips on when to salvage the relationship, when to let it go, and how to communicate through it all - even as co-parents. You'll love her honest advice - especially about how to drag a man to the couples counselor's couch!
Dr. Jenn Mann is one of the most well known psychotherapists in the country. Most known as the host and therapist for VH1’s long standing hit shows Couples Therapy with Dr. Jenn and Family Therapy with Dr. Jenn, she has appeared as a guest expert on hundreds of other shows including: The Today Show, The Early Show, Dr. Oz, Wendy Williams, The Doctors, The Maury Show, Steve Harvey, Access Hollywood, The Insider, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. She has a weekly column in In Style Magazine called “Hump Day with Dr. Jenn” where she gives sex and relationship advice. Dr. Jenn is the author of many best selling advice books including: The Relationship Fix: Dr. Jenn’s Guide to Improving Communication, Connection & Intimacy, SuperBaby: 12 Ways to Give Your Child a Head Start In the First 3 Years and The A to Z Guide to Raising Happy Confident Kids which have collectively spent five weeks on the best seller list.
Getting Divorced When a Spouse Has Mental Health Issues; with Top Florida Family Law Attorney Lauren Grondski
In the media recently, we've seen endless news updates about Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's impending divorce, due largely in part to his struggles with Bipolar Disorder. Making the decision to divorce is difficult enough, but what happens when you are considering leaving a marriage where there are mental health issues present? That certainly adds a whole other level of difficulty and stress to the decision.
That's why I invited on my friend and top Florida family law attorney Lauren Grondski of the Law Offices of Lauren Grondski for an in-depth chat on how to get divorced when a spouse has mental health issues. We covered best practices, how to handle co-parenting, and which resources to consider when going through the divorce process with a spouse who has mental illness.
Lauren Grondski is the owner and founder of Law Offices of Lauren Grondski, P.A. She is a Family Law Attorney and Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator. In addition, Lauren dedicates herself as a Guardian Ad Litem, advocating for children in the legal system.
Lauren specializes in Family Law, representing clients and mediating cases in a wide array of matters. Whether someone is going through divorce or separation, Lauren Grondski has become synonymous with handling some of life’s most unpleasant bumps in the road with complete compassion, care, and understanding. Learn more about Lauren and how you can connect with her, here.
Finding the 'Light On the Other Side of Divorce' with Psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Cohen, AKA, The Divorce Doctor
It's not hard to view your divorce as the "worst thing in the world," especially when everyone around us tends to treat divorce like an ugly, horrible life change. This is where our podcast guest. Dr. Elizabeth Cohen, thrives most - in helping women find the light on the other side of divorce.
Learn, heal, grow is her mantra and we're getting a healthy mix of all three in this episode of Moms Moving On.
Dr. Cohen received her PhD in clinical psychology from Boston University. As part of her graduate training, she treated clients at the world-renowned Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders in Boston, MA.
Dr. Cohen was the recipient of the prestigious American Psychological Foundation Research Award for her doctoral research. Following her time at BU, Dr. Cohen completed her pre-doctoral internship at Bellevue Hospital Center and the New York University Child Study Center. After completing her training, she was asked to become the Director of the CBT program at Bellevue’s Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic.
Dr. Cohen has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, NBC News, Women’s Health, Huff Post, Thrive Global and, Good Housekeeping.
Learn more about Dr. Elizabeth Cohen, AKA, the Divorce Doctor, her new book, and her amazing online course, here.
Dating After Divorce - Red Flags, Zoom Dating, and Breaking Unhealthy Relationship Patterns With Expert Dating Coach Bela Gandhi
Dating after divorce can be hard - harder if you're not clear on what to avoid this time around. Expert dating coach, Bela Gandhi, from the Today show and Steve Harvey shared some amazing ways to ensure you're breaking unhealthy dating patterns as you set out to date after divorce.
We covered everything from the top red flags to look fo when dating after divorce, to narcissists, love bombing, and even how to look your best for zoom dating during covid. You'll LOVE Bela's refreshing take on finding love again.
Bela is the founder of the Smart Dating Academy and she's helped thousands of people find love through 1:1 coaching and her popular "love lab" workshops. She has an uncanny sixth sense about people, and what they need. Her intuition has been responsible for several marriages (and children)! The Huffington Post and Steve Harvey call her "The Fairy Godmother of Dating!"
Bela has been connecting people all of her life. Prior to founding the Smart Dating Academy, Bela worked for 12 years as a top global executive for Akzo Nobel, a large multinational corporation. Bela has two degrees from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Finance & German), and has been happily married for 20 years with 2 children.
Learn more Bela and her Smart Dating Academy programs, here!
Money and Divorce Tips: Meet the Women Who are Helping Women Better Understand their Finances and Find their Independence!
What often keeps a woman stuck in an unhappy marriage? Money - the fear of not having enough, the fear of not being able to live independently, and the fear that her ex will "take everything."
Karen Chellew and Catherine Shanahan are doing some very important (and impressive) work in the divorce space - they're helping women answer these questions and understand their finances and create a clear plan of action for being able to take that next step into their independence. I learned SO much from chatting with them and I know you will, too.
Through their professional and personal experiences, Karen Chellew and Catherine Shanahan founded My Divorce Solution and have created a unique and comprehensive process that greets divorce in a whole new way – a way that empowers those who experience this major life transition. Our mission is simple: to help people move through the divorce process with financial clarity and confidence so they can make the rest of their lives the best of their lives.
Click here to learn how you can take control of your finances and move on confidently into this next phase of your life.
Living (and Surviving) that Stepmom Life with Jamie Scrimgeour
After finding herself wearing some serious stepmama shoes just a few years back, Jamie Scrimgeour, a former Child Protection Worker, realized very quickly that there just wasn't enough resources for women who needed help learning how to do the stepmom thing. Fast forward a few years, three stepkids, and one biological child later, and Jamie is working with women all over the world to help them stepparent with ease and confidence.
In this episode we talk about:
How to overcome some of the more common challenges of stepparenting
How to not take the little things personally
Understanding your role in the mix of ex wives and their children
Advice for enjoying it all
Jamie is a proud wife, mother and stepmom who has always been passionate about supporting others in living the best life possible. With a BA (Hons) in Psychology and a diploma in Social Services, prior to taking time off to welcome her daughter into the world, Jamie enjoyed her career in Child Protection.
Upon becoming a stepmom, she was disappointed at the lack of positive, solution-focused support for stepmoms. This motivated Jamie to start her own method of supporting stepmoms. In her blog, podcast and videos Jamie talks candidly about all things motherhood, step-motherhood, entrepreneurship and living a KICK-ASS Life.
Jamie is on a mission to inspire women to thrive amongst the tough stuff in life - whatever that may be.
Jamie’s content has reached stepmoms internationally and has been featured on popular blogging websites including The Huffington Post Divorce, About.com, Mum.info and the Motherish.
Learn more about Jamie, and her exclusive Stepmom Community here!
Meet Sheva Ganz: Single Mom of 3 Who Left a Different Country and a Religious Way of Life Behind in Search of Her Own Happiness
For the last 2020 episode of Moms Moving On, I wanted to go out with a truly inspiring bang, which is why I invited this amazing single mom of 3 on for a chat. Sheva Ganz not only left her marriage, she left an entire country and religion behind in pursuit of finding her own values and true moral compass.
She is now a single mom coach, therapist, and reparenting coach, and I am so excited for you to hear her story!
Sheva believes in every individual's innate capacity to heal, and seek a path towards discovery and transformation, lined with dignity, respect, trust, creativity and open-minded exploration. She specializes in the following areas:
- Divorce Issues
- Parenting
- Coping Skills
- Trauma Resolution, and more!
To learn more about Sheva Ganz, check her out, here.
How to Manage Your Anxiety and Fight Through Your Fears During the Divorce Process, with Psychologist Dr. Erika Velez
"I don't think I'm going to be able to handle this," most women tell me at the start of their divorce process. And I can totally sympathize. Dealing with anxiety during your divorce process takes special attention, care, and strategy, and our guest on this episode helps with all three.
Day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment - that's how Dr. Erika Velez guides her clients when it comes to handling their anxiety and fear related to the divorce process. Dr. Erika has joined us for a second time to help listeners unpack all that is worrying them about the divorce process after what has been a truly challenging year.
Dr. Erika Velez has a doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Child Psychology. Her passion lies in helping people understand themselves and take control of their lives, teaching (and learning), and has enjoyed working as an adjunct professor at Barry University and Albizu University in Miami, FL.
You can connect and learn more about Dr. Erika, here, and be sure to follow her amazing Instagram account, here.
Getting Divorced? Here's Why You'll Want to Consider a Temporary Parenting Plan - with New York Family Lawyer Lauren Hunt, Esq.
The divorce process can be a lengthy one, so what does that mean for the children in the meantime. Who will they be with? When? WHERE?!
This is where temporary parenting plans become a game changer. A temporary parenting plan or custody agreement contains information about where your child will live and how you and the other parent will care for your child during the divorce proceedings. A temporary plan lasts until the divorce is finalized and the permanent parenting plan is in place. But wait, there's more, and this is why I invited family law attorney Lauren Hunt on the podcast to share her knowledge on the benefits of a temporary parenting plan.
Lauren is an Attorney / Mediator in New York State and has practiced exclusively in the field of Family / Matrimonial Law for over a decade. She understands that family problems must be resolved quickly, cost-effectively, and in a way that addresses the client’s short- and long-term needs. Lauren works to craft individualized solutions that are practical, realistic, and account for each client’s unique facts.
Her practice includes direct representation in a wide variety of family law matters and she also maintains a state-wide mediation practice. Whether the matter is resolved in court or at the mediation table, Lauren works with her clients to ensure that their voices are heard and values understood. She truly enjoys the work she does and the clients that she has had the privilege to represent.
Lauren was named to the Super Lawyers list in the area of Family Law from 2014-2020 and has received several other awards in recognition of her professionalism and advocacy in the areas of Family and Matrimonial Law.
Lauren's other involvements in the legal and non-legal community include: serving on several committees for the New York State Bar Association, sitting on the Board of the Shaker Heritage Society, and volunteering her time as both a foster parent and pro bono legal counsel for a local dog rescue.
Her greatest treasure in life, though, is her family. In her downtime, she can be found exploring a new hiking trail with her husband and son, cooking up big Sunday breakfasts, and dancing to “Baby Shark” for the millionth time with her son – Jack.
Learn more about working with Lauren, here.
Follow her on the 'gram, here.
What to Expect at Mediation (and the Benefits of Making It to the Mediation Table) with Divorce Attorney and Mediator Alison Spirito, Esq.
The divorce process does not have to be an ugly one, even when it involves parentage and financial decisions. That's where today's guest, divorce attorney and family Mediator Alison Spirito, comes in.
As a divorce attorney, Alison realized very quickly the benefit of ditching the divorce battle and focusing on coming to an agreement designed completely by the couple looking to uncouple. It's called mediation, and it's far less scary than it sounds.
Worried that you can't make it to the mediation table because of covid? Have no fear - online mediation is a common speciality for Alison, providing a comfort and convenience for the couples she works with.
Alison Spirito is a divorce & family mediator and attorney in Los Angeles, California. She helps families stay out of court and create sustainable settlement agreements that actually work for them. She enjoys working with parents, learning about their children and financial goals, and educating them on their options so they can make informed decisions that are right for them and for their families.
Alison is an executive committee member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Barristers/Young Attorneys Section, where serves as a liaison to the Family Law Section. Alison is also co-chair of the South Bay Bar Association’s Family Law Section.
Alison believes that court-free approaches are the future of resolving family disputes and has written several articles published on the benefits of mediation and collaborative divorce, co-parenting, the mental health of children in divorce, and why millennials are drawn to the mediation and collaborative approaches. Learn more about Alison, here.
How to Get Divorced When There are Substance Abuse or Mental Health Issues Involved; with Lawyer and Therapist Rebecca Amster Cantor
Divorce can be a tricky process, of course, but what happens if your spouse has substance abuse issues or is battling mental health struggles and you fear leaving them because you don't want them to have time alone with the kids? That's where Rebecca Amster Cantor, Esq. MS comes in.
What sets Rebecca apart when dealing with this topic is that fact she is both a family lawyer and a marriage and family therapist. Her wisdom, strategy, and compassion for the children and families involved in the divorce process put her at the top of her game. What's more, her attitude towards divorce is extremely refreshing.
Rebecca was raised in Philadelphia, PA, where she learned to love cheesesteaks and Italian water ice. Always a high academic achiever, Rebecca attended Cornell University, graduating in 1997 with a Bachelors of Science in Human Development and Family Studies. Trading snowstorms for tropical breezes, Rebecca moved to Miami to attend the University of Miami School of Law, graduating a proud member of the Cane family in 2000.
Always interested in children’s issues, Rebecca opened her own law practice in 2003, concentrating on the needs of children in Family Court. She rapidly began building her caseload and her reputation as a strong voice for children as a Guardian ad litem in Dissolution cases.
Rebecca returned to school and received her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University. Ever the academic achiever, Rebecca was the first student in Nova’s MFT program to receive a 100% on the Comprehensive exam.
Rebecca’s practice, as always, remains very focused on meeting the psychological and emotional needs of children, and of families in Family Court. Rebecca finds great joy and personal satisfaction in helping families seek new function and practical solutions so that parents can move on from the fatigue of litigation and move forward to enjoying their children every day.
When she is not working, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her own two children, training for long-distance races, and Zumba classes. You can learn more about Rebecca and her practice, here.
Healing After Divorce with the Founder of HEALIN, Karen Millon
Healing after divorce is not a linear process. Healing after divorce can sometimes feel impossible. That's why I interviewed Author and podcast host Karen Millon to talk about what true healing after a divorce looks like, and the secret to her own amazing divorce - even after leaving her marriage of 17 years for another man.
Karen, after 17 years of marriage, found herself in a predicament - she had fallen in love with another man, and knew she had to end her marriage in order to be truly happy. She boldly tells the tale of her divorce journey in this episode, and what led her to writing her first book, "An Amazing Divorce: What you Can Do For Yourself, For Each Other and for The Children to Achieve it."
More about Karen:
Karen Millon is a successful business entrepreneur where among several accomplishments she was the Co-founder and President of LifeLike BioTissue, Inc. in Canada. At the end of the winter of 2013, while traveling for work, and completely out of the blue, she met her soulmate. He was her perfect match in every single marker, but there was just one problem… she was married to a good man with two small children. In a matter of one day, she made the difficult decision to leave her husband of 13 years (18 years together). This story had the potential to become another cliché marked by betrayal, anger, and hostility. But instead, she and her ex-husband created something amazing.
Listen to Karen's podcast, Healin with Karen Millon, here.
For Better or For Worse: Divorce During Covid-19 with TV Personality & Attorney Dana Michelle Davenport, Esq.
Dana Michelle and her positive attitude about divorce, co-parenting, and life in general brings a breath of fresh air to this episode of Moms Moving On, and there's no way you can avoid feeling inspired by her!
About Dana Michelle Davenport, Esq.: Dana Michelle is the host of radio and television talk shows Dana Being Dana, new television show Finding Common Ground and Co-founder and Director of The Homecoming Challenge, a non-profit alumni giving campaign. A full-time practicing attorney and mother of two, Dana Michelle divorced in 2015 and unleashed a new lease on life.
About Dana Being Dana: Dana Being Dana is a half-hour talk show airing monthly on Naperville Community Television, Channel 17, via simulcast and on-demand video at NCTV17.com and via Podcast on iTunes, Google Play Store, Sound Cloud and Stitcher. Dana Being Dana is also a weekly radio show live on Facebook andintellectualradio.com.
Dana Being Dana is a show about the human connection, and engages viewers by encouraging, connecting, and inspiring others to live their very best lives. Ultimately, Dana Being Dana serves our community by spreading love. The show covers topics that matter to real people, and focuses on the core of what makes us human. Dana Being Dana is an inviting, inspirational, and even humorous platform to discuss friendships, family, relationships, music, mental health (how do you spot a narcissist?), and raising children. The show’s monthly messages challenge viewers to consistently show-up in their daily lives, support their circles, and celebrate differences.
About Finding Common Ground: Finding Common Ground is focused on important current events and how they impact our diverse population. We are many voices of one community, often with strong opinions on every side of an issue. Here, through courageous conversation in the interest of discovering collaborative solutions, we hope to find our common ground.
Spoiler Alert: You DON'T Have to Like Your Ex in Order to Co-Parent Well: Expert Tips and Advice from Author and Coach Shaunna Lee
If you haven't already gotten to know Author and Coach Shaunna Lee, you'll not only get to know her well now, you'll also fall in love with her attitude and perspective on co-parenting and divorce. Shaunna has been married and divorced 3 times, and co-parents with two exes, so she sure knows a thing or two about making the best out of co-parenting life and letting go of anger and resentment in order to focus on her kids. Shaunna also has a kick-ass sense of humor and recently authored one of the most beautiful divorce books - check it out!
Shaunna has helped single moms walk through heartbreak and loss to create a new plan for starting again. She transforms their chaotic, frazzled and stressful lives into mornings where they wake up excited about what they get to do. She helps them discover more freedom, control and flexibility in a life that feels easy and fun!
Learn more about Shaunna, here.
Overcoming the Fear of Divorce; Before, During, and After the Split with Breakup/Divorce Coach Matina Singh
You know you have to leave your marriage, or maybe you've already left - but you're still riddled with fear and not sure what to do to quiet those fears. That's where Breakup/Divorce Coach Matina Singh comes in.
Matina was 35 years old, with three young children, who were counting on her for stability, when she was in one of the most unstable moments of her life. For the first time ever, her life was hers and she didn’t know how to deal with it. One day at a time, she started defining herself, her values, and what was a “MUST” for her and her children’s lives.
Today, coming out on the other side of that roller coaster ride, she stand strong knowing that she has REFLECTED, RESET and RECLAIMED her life and wants to help other women going through similar situations, do the same.
Learn more about Matina, here.
Divorce is Hard, But the Legal Process Shouldn't Be: Celeb Divorce Attorney Laura Wasser Explains How She's Making Divorce a Much Easier Process
Laura Wasser has represented celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, Jimmy Iovine, Maria Shriver, and Stevie Wonder, but she maintains that divorce is the great equalizer — it terrifies everyone.
Laura has made it her mission to change the uncontested divorce process by creating It’s Over Easy, an online divorce service that gives divorcing couples an accessible and affordable resource to dissolve their marriage. The platform guides couple through the process of completing their family law forms, negotiating child and spousal support, creating a co-parenting agreement, serving the divorce petition to their spouse and submitting the final settlement package to the court.
It's Over Easy is changing the face of divorce by providing education, tools and support for families going through the process and making them available to everyone. Laura believes that by simplifying the divorce process online and sharing her vast experience in family law with her audience, couples are empowered to reclaim control over their own destinies.
Attorney Laura Allison Wasser (LAW) is an author, entrepreneur, and Family Law expert with over 20 years of experience. Having handled a number of high-profile, high-net-worth divorce cases, Laura Wasser and her team have developed an intuitive and simple process for uncontested divorces available to everyone.
She attended the University of California, Berkeley and earned a law degree from Loyola Law School. Laura participates in continuing education programs as a lecturer and panelist. She has also been a guest lecturer at Loyola Law School, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and University of California Berkeley Hall School of Law.
Laura serves on the Board of Directors-Loyola Law School, Board of Directors-Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Board of Trustees-Oakwood School, Advisory Council-Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law, and is a Member of the Executive Committee-Beverly Hills Bar Family Law Section and Los Angeles Bar-Family Law Section.
You Actually CAN Co-Parent with a Difficult Ex: Tips from Dorcy Pruter, Founder of the Conscious Co-Parenting Institute
Yes, you can co-parent with a pathogenic parent (a narcissist, borderline personality, or other difficult personality disorder), and you can even find harmony and peace for the kids if you do it right.
How?
Dorcy Pruter, shows us how to shift the entire co-parenting relationship and create better, healthier outcomes for the new post-separation family structure. Dorcy is the Founder and CEO of Conscious Co-Parenting Institute, a Dorcy Inc. Company. Through reunification coaching and co-parenting education, Dorcy provides strategies and solutions for parents and children to reconnect, or stay connected, during and after a high-conflict divorce.
The primary focus of Dorcy’s work at the Conscious Co-Parenting Institute is high-conflict custody disputes involving “Parental Alienation.” Her goal is to help establish custody plans and co-parenting roles that encourage positive relationships between children and BOTH parents.
Working with both mothers and fathers, as well as attorneys and therapists, Dorcy has spent the last several years as a Family Reunification Coach and Custody Consultant. She has worked on numerous cases, nationally and internationally, garnering positive results. For a list of services Conscious Co-Parenting Institute can provide, click here.
Dorcy has gifted our Moms Moving On Community members with a free step-by-step guide to release the pain from betrayal, break-up, or divorce. Check it out in our community now, and if you're not already a member, sign up, here!
Divorce During Covid (without pants): A Candid Chat with Writer and Everyone's Favorite Funny Mom, Julie Burton
Divorce is up 34% during the Coronavirus pandemic which has made for a very delayed divorce process for some people. Julie Burton, writer and all around hilarious mama, was not one of these people, as she recently finalized her divorce - from home - hence why she was without pants.
Listen to how the divorce process worked for Julie during the pandemic, and what co-parenting her two daughters looked like during this time.
She’s one of the funniest moms in Kansas City. The surprisingly quiet and introverted mom of two puts an end to the “perfect” highlight reel of parenting we all see on social media. Julie tells us how it really is raising two daughters as a single, divorced mom in Overland Park, Kansas. She gives comic relief to moms, wives, and women around the world with her blunt and often embarrassing real-life stories.
Julie is a contributing author to the NYT Best-Selling anthology humor series, “But Did You Die? Setting the Parenting Bar Low,” by A Bunch of Know-It-Alls and “Will Work for Apples,” by the Teacher’s Pets.
Julie is named one of the funniest parents by NBC’s Today Show, Scary Mommy, Huffington Post Parents, Good Morning America and Buzzfeed. She is a regular contributing writer all around the Internet.
You can find her at:
Lose the Divorce Drama by Divorcing Healthy with the Queen of Collaborative Divorce, Ashley-Nicole Russell
What if I told you the divorce process didn't have to be ugly? That it wouldn't have to involve a long, drawn-out court battle full of contention and toxicity? That's the beauty of collaborative law, and why I interviewed Greenville, North Carolina's FIRST practicing collaborative law attorney, Ashley-Nicole Russell, P.A..
Did I mention that she is only 34 and was already named one of the 10 best female attorneys in client satisfaction by The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys? Yea, she's something special and I am so excited for you to learn from her.
Ashley-Nicole is dedicated to understanding her client’s needs and protecting their interests. As a child of divorce, she knows first hand the hardship and long-term effects of the traditional litigation model. She is committed to the Collaborative Divorce process outlined in the North Carolina General Statutes as a healthier alternative to litigation. Ashley-Nicole used the Collaborative Process in her own divorce, and she knows the success of the process first hand to preserve relationships and set the tone for a life of peace after divorce. She opened The Law Offices of Ashley-Nicole Russell, P.A. to help families navigate the emotional and legal aspects of separation and divorce in the Triangle and Eastern North Carolina.
Ashley-Nicole Russell is the first practicing Collaborative Attorney in Greenville, NC. She graduated from Appalachian State University, Magna Cum Laude, with a BS in Political Science and a BSCJ in Criminal Justice. She went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from North Carolina Central University School of Law. There she obtained her Juris Doctor and a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from the Dispute Resolution Institute. Ashley-Nicole received training in Wilmington, NC with the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and is now a member of IACP.
Learn more about Ashley-Nicole, here!
Leaving a Marriage Confidently (Even When Your Cultural Beliefs & Co-Dependency Habits Tell You to Stay) with Author & Therapist Edit Alaverdyan
Feeling stuck in your marriage due to personal beliefs? Letting your co-dependency get the best of you? Full of shame for having left your marriage?
Author and Therapist Edit Alaverdyan breaks it all down for us in this wildly empowering episode, and reminds us that doing the hard work on ourselves is always worth it.
Edit Alaverdyan born and raised in Hrazdan Armenia came to the US at age 9, from then on, she had a passion for humanitarianism and Psychology. Edit graduated from the University of Phoenix, Arizona, earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Child Therapy. Edit conducted two years of her training at BHC Alhambra Hospital working with Acute patients in mental health distress followed by extensive experience with Eating Disorder patients. While working at Reasons Eating Disorder Recovery Center, she gained extensive experience conducting various groups and Psychotherapy approaches. Edit has been invited to several schools such as Cal State University Northridge and University of Phoenix specifically for her Psycho-educational courses and Panel speeches on individuals struggling with Grief and Loss as well as Depression. Edit has been known for her psycho-educational courses on various research-based practices. Edit is continuing her education with a Doctorate in Health Administration. She has been helping various mental health organizations consulting and implementing various programs by adding the approach to advanced study and research in the applied science and practice of professional management.
Edit Alaverdyan’s goal is to create a safe environment, instill confidence and provide emotional support to anyone that is struggling with mental health dilemmas. Therapy can certainly help manage your emotional stressor (e.g., traumatic experiences). Her Psychotherapy approach is well known for its gentle and empathetic approach to solving problems and creating tools for the clients that want to overcome anxiety, depression, lack of self-compassion, confidence difficulties, and several other crises.
Find her amazing Instagram account, here.
Dating After Divorce? Author Lauren Peacock Hilariously Shares Her Top Tips for How to Handle Dating After Divorce.
Dating is scary enough as it is - throw in a divorce and a few kid to the mix and you're all like "how the hell do I do this?!"
That's where Lauren Peacock comes in, Author of the bestselling book "Female. Likes Cheese. Comes with Dog."
Lauren joined us to chat about her own dating life post divorce and some of the top tips she swears by when you're trying to get back out into the dating world after a divorce. She released her debut book titled, "Female. Likes Cheese. Comes with Dog.: Stories About Divorce, Dating, and Saying 'I Do’” on Valentine’s Day of 2020. When Lauren was 23 years old, she got her fairy-tale wedding, but she soon discovered that a dream wedding doesn’t guarantee a dream marriage and got divorced at 27. Having found her second (and current) husband on a British dating site, she is an expert at online dating, recovering from heartbreak, and going outside of your comfort zone and offers practical tips for socially distanced dating during the pandemic and has had lots of even younger fans in Gen-Z reaching out to her for dating advice.
Click here to buy the book and learn more about Lauren!
Should You Stay or Should You Go? Kate Anthony from The Divorce Survival Guide Helps Answer One of Life's Most Difficult Divorce Questions
You know you're unhappy. You also know leaving a marriage can be a lot of work. So what is a gal to do? That's where Kate Anthony comes in, and on this latest episode of Moms Moving On, she's holding nothing back when it comes to determining your next steps before divorce.
Kate Anthony is the host of the critically acclaimed and New York Times recommended podcast, The Divorce Survival Guide Podcast and the creator of the groundbreaking online coaching program, 'Should I Stay or Should I Go?' which helps women make the most difficult decision of their lives using coaching tools, relationship education, geeky neuroscience, community support, and deep self-work.
Kate empowers women to find their strength, passion, and confidence even in the most disempowering of circumstances and helps them move forward with concrete plans set on a solid foundation, putting their children at the center (not in the middle) of all their decisions.
In addition to her online programs, Kate works privately with clients all over the world. Kate lives in Los Angeles with her teenage son (whom she lovingly co-parents with her ex-husband), their two dogs, and a handful of fish.