Father’s Relationships With Their Kids Post-Divorce Can Be Better Than Before The Split

All Dads – Read This!   I posted this image today and wrote about the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ re. improved relationships between dads and their kids post divorce, and this lovely comment was shared (I post with his permission):   “To expand on this, I found separation to be massively empowering for me as a father. Prior to separation, parenting had primarily been my wife’s domain – this was because she was so good at it, because she had strong views...

“I should buy the Mediator Christmas presents every year”

Robert went through years of conflict in order to be able to see his children after a bitter divorce, and despite having to go to court on more than one occasion, mediation was what finally helped end those years of stress and misery. Robert, his wife and the children all suffered physical and mental repercussions due to the stress, but Robert’s experience proves that even if one party insists on using the courts, if you can remain calm and focused, a healthy end result can be achieved,...

Breaking The News To The Children

I wanted to share this moving account sent to me by a mother who ‘broke the news’ to the children at a family meal, of the possible impending divorce between her and their father. The names have been changed, of course, as the journey is still ongoing – but it fills me with awe at the courage and generosity of spirit that parents often show during the traumatic process of family separation, but which is too rarely applauded.   I wanted to tell you how I told the children on...

Suzy’s Story: A Journey From Infidelity To Creating The First UK Divorce Fair

Is a peaceful divorce possible when there has been infidelity?     Divorce Strategist and Public Speaker Suzy Miller   I am a Divorce Strategist who helps to prepare people who are divorcing for a more peaceful journey through divorce.  I have collaborated with the MOJ in promoting dispute resolution, am an affiliate member of the Family Mediators’ Association, have written for the Daily Mail and been featured in many national magazines and appeared on BBC Breakfast TV, Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour...

Integrating Families Can Be Tough

Nigel shares how difficult it can be to integrate families post-divorce.  Sometimes the ‘new wife’ can be a powerful force for peace! Demi Moore & Bruce Willis who are masters of managing the ‘blended family’.   Gwyneth Paltrow & Chris Martin also stayed friends through their “conscious uncoupling.”  Or you may have heard of Ben Affleck’s divorce where the couple agreed to have separate homes on the same property so their three children can be near both parents.  How...

Protecting your privacy after your divorce from social media harassment: Karen Bashford

Is your Ex following you through social media and the internet? Social media is a wonderful tool for staying in contact, finding clients and suppliers, and on a social level, sharing informative and fun videos. But there is also a dark side to social media – one that as a divorcee you need to be aware of. I discovered how vulnerable I was to my horror, when my ex of 22 years used social media and my website to harass me. It is not pleasant to receive an email or comments on a blog from...

A young woman talks about her parents’ divorce

Interview with a young woman who’s parents divorced when she was 9, and how it affected her. Catherine relates how her parents combative divorce has affected her life. http://traffic.libsyn.com/alternativedivorceradioshow/Catherine.mp3 For more shared stories, videos and key resources for parents and children experiencing family change, click...

Divorce First Aid for Employees interview with Suzy Miller

Alternative Divorce Guide Suzy Miller talks about Divorce First Aid for Employees in this podcast interview with Single Mums’ Survival Guide author and transformational coach Vivienne Smith:     “Family breakup and divorce has significant health consequences both physically and emotionally, and therefore it is vital that co-workers and managers have a basic understanding on how to deliver “First Aid” in the form of guidance, access to resources, and a non-judgemental approach....

The true cost of divorce

  No-one knows better the true cost of divorce than those who have experienced an adversarial court-focused litigation process.  Sometimes those people are the very professionals who work hard to support divorcing clients to stay away from the court and find a better solution.   In this podcast interview with a Financial Advisor who has been through an acrimonious divorce, he describes the true cost of his own divorce and believes that if he had been able to use mediation then the story would...

Changing People: with Life Coach Sandie Martel

In this interview with Alternative Divorce Guide Suzy Miller, Life Coach Sandie Martel  shares a story of how she transformed her relationship with her strong-willed 5 year old.   Letting go There is something very liberating when you stop wanting people to change or to change people. We get easily annoyed when people are not acting the way we would like them to. We have so many expectations about just anything and anyone. We often think that life would be so much easier if only our ex-partner...

A Walk on the Weird Side

Keeping it friendly through Divorce – even when it Hurts   It was whilst he cried on my shoulder for the end of the short affair that had split open our ten year relationship, that I knew my life was taking a new course. He wasn’t crying for the revelation of a few weeks before that he no longer wanted to be with me, and that the house we lived in would have to be sold for debts he had not told me about until now.  He wasn’t crying for my new enforced status as a single mother to three...

Is divorce your only option?

  Considering divorce? Think again!   My ex-husband and I separated in 2011 after 18 years together and got divorced in 2014. I don’t necessarily want to go into too much details but I’d like you to have an idea of what we have been through and the reason I do that is that I’d like you to really consider all your options before making your mind up. Most options are often considered – counselling, trying to get your problems solved etc. However there is one option I was not aware of when...

The Single Mum’s Survival Guide

  Alternative Divorce Guide Suzy Miller wanted to know more about Vivienne Smith‘s new book “The Single Mum’s Survival Guide – How to Pick Up the Pieces and Build a Happy New Life” – so she asked Vivienne to tell her about how – and why – she came to write this book:     “They do say that everyone has a book in them – for me, this was certainly true although it has taken thirteen years before I was ready to share it with the world! The event that triggered my...

Being a single mum but not defined by it

In this video interview, Vivienne Smith of Personal Breakthrough talks about her experiences as a single mum and how she helps women to see beyond the label – and also acknowledges the benefits of that time as a single mother as part of her own life experience. “Perhaps one of the most famous single mums of all, J.K.Rowling, wrote the first Harry Potter book when she was a single mother struggling to pay the bills. She has long been a champion of single mothers – in fact, the she...

Alternative Divorce Radio Show

  We have moved!   Hear all episodes of the  Alternative Divorce Radio Show at http://www.alternativedivorceguide.com/alternative-divorce-radio-show.php http://traffic.libsyn.com/alternativedivorceradioshow/Alternative_Divorce_Radio_Show_Ep_1.m4a   Click here to visit the new home of the Alternative Divorce Radio...

BBC Breakfast TV 2011: Extended families post divorce

  A ‘Modern Family’ at Christmas featuring Suzy Miller of Divorce in a Box and her extended family:  

Infidelity? It’s none of my business

    The shock of the breakup was so sudden, so extreme, that normal behaviour would have seemed inappropriate     The events that lead up to it should have left clues, but they didn’t register: The bank letters addressed in his name that I didn’t open because I’d learned that it was, apparently, none of my business how he kept missing the payments on the credit cards. The time he spent at the local pub which was natural for a hard working man, to need space away from our...

A Part Of You

    Is he part of you, his loss feeling like an amputation? Or was his Love nothing but an hallucination? His going away like a dismemberment of heart and soul The ripped abdomen of a bee that has stung and fled The relationship is dead Yet you are alive and it is you who are left with a hole Playing out your suffering role And strangely, no visible blood. Your agony cries, more a victim’s sobs than a tearful flood Of salty sacrifice, of abandoned child Of anger raging behind that poor...

Jay talks about dealing with the Ex

    Thank you to Jay for sharing his enlightened way of ‘dealing with the Ex’.   Know someone going through breakup?  Want them to stay out of court and to protect the children? Tell them about Divorce in a Box

Suzy’s Story

  A Strange Gift: Unplanned Solo Parenting   It’s a January morning in 2003 and I can’t bring myself to take the kids to school. What will I say when someone asks me “How are you?” The answer, you see, is just not the stuff of polite conversation.   “W E L L… My partner of ten years has just dumped me. “I was supposed to live with him into old age. I had no idea that he wasn’t happy. “I loved the bastard. “But that’s only the half of it – he’s dumped me with...

Huffington Post Divorce Video Podcasts

Children of Divorce Video Collection

    Children experience divorce in many ways. Here is a collection of videos from around the world that are both amusing – and moving. This first documentary is challenging but well worth watching.  Let the children’s voices be heard.     See more videos about children sharing their experiences and ways to help them here: Children of Divorce Channel    ...

Suzy's blended family on BBC Breakfast TV

Stay-out-of-court Divorce Planner Suzy Miller featured with her family on UK Breakfast TV in December 2011:

What is a Starting Over Show?

Using Divorce in a Box to revolutionise the break-up process

  Sam shares her experience of a potential divorce and family break up and how she is using SOS Divorce in a Box to provide information and inspiration.  

Collaborative family lawyer Naim Qureshi

Going through a divorce using lawyers does not have to involve court battles – not if you use Collaborative Family Lawyers. Come and meet Naim Qureshi from the independent law firm Gordon Dadds, who pride themselves on building long term relationships with their clients, many of whom stay with the firm for years and benefit from their extensive range of services.  Clients range from individuals and wealthy families to companies and charities. Testimonials: “Championing a vulnerable...

Divorce Mediator Samantha Jago

Samantha has a wide range of experience in all family matters to include prenuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, divorce, disputes over jurisdiction, cohabitation disputes, civil partnerships, children matters, injunctions and resolving financial matters arising from the breakdown of a relationship. Samantha also carries out advocacy on behalf of clients. Samantha is an accredited family law specialist with both the Law Society and Resolution, and she is also a qualified family law...

Divorce SOS Agony Aunt Rhiannon Ford

  What should I do to prepare for my first meeting with the solicitor? To make the meeting as productive as possible for you, I recommend 2 things; Firstly, it’s a good idea to spend time writing a list of questions you want to ask the solicitor. This will help you stay focused during the meeting. It also ensures you remember to cover everything that is important to you. The solicitor will appreciate being made aware of the particular areas of law on which you require their advice, and will...

Survivor Coach: Annie Winfield

Annie Winfield: Survivor Coach Following a life changing event, sometimes we need help sorting our thoughts or direction.  I will enable you to identify what you really want personally or professionally and then support and guide you while you achieve your goals.  I will keep you focused and on track, and help you overcome any challenges or obstacles in your way.   Testimonials: “I hired Annie for a number of different areas in my life, predominantly around my coaching business. I have to say...

Francine Kaye: Divorce with Dignity

Do You Want To Avoid A Destructive Divorce But Don’t Know How To Begin? Do You Want to Avoid Spending Thousands of Your Hard Earned Income on Legal Battles? Do You Want to Keep Your Kids Physically Well and Emotionally Healthy During Your Divorce? Do You Sincerely Want to Divorce with Dignity? If you answered ‘Yes’ to any of the above then Francine Kaye’s new programme ‘Divorce With Dignity’ is for you. Ask anyone who has experienced an acrimonious and destructive divorce (who never thought...