relationships
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The Anchor He Gave Me Was Never Meant to Hold
As I sit on his boat, miles from shore and surrounded by the endless blue of the Gulf, I’m overcome by the unsettling stillness of it all. While the boat is busy with a group of his friends fishing, enjoying the time together, and the excitement of the deep sea, I am caught in a Continue reading
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It’s Not High Conflict Co-Parenting: It’s Post-Separation Abuse
Co-parenting is a phrase used in the Family Court System and its attending agencies to describe two separated parents that share children from a previous relationship. Seems simple enough. To the person who has never experienced a separated relationship with children, co-parenting is just that – a phrase. It is an adjective used to describe Continue reading
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The Ugly Truth of Co-Parenting: Part…
The Ugly Truth of Co-Parenting: Part… At this stage in my co-parenting journey, I’ve lost count of all the ugly truths I’ve come to understand. Some are obvious—missed holidays, delayed birthday celebrations, vacations you don’t get to share. Both parents experience these moments of loss, grieving in the adjustment phase. And while the pain never fully disappears, Continue reading
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Why You Must Stop Seeking Fairness in Toxic Relationships
When I decided to start writing about my experience in a psychologically abusive relationship, I truly did not think about how repetitive the topics I write about would be. I think I honestly thought it would be one issue, this tactic, that bulldozing of a boundary. I guess I imagined myself navigating new situations, learning Continue reading
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Divorce Trauma and Post-Separation Abuse: Co-Parenting with a High Conflict Person
It is known that divorce is the end to a relationship. Divorce is more stressful than the death of a spouse. I believe that. Because in death, you are still here, only haunted by the ghost of the person that you create in your head. In divorce, you are forced to exist and interact with Continue reading
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“And This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things”: Narcissistic Partners and Special Events
If you have ever been in a relationship with a narcissistic person, then the experiences I write or will soon write about should sound familiar, specifically the next experience I am about to share. Before I started on my journey of discovery into what was happening in my marriage, why was it ending, who was Continue reading
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Unveiling Some Early Signs of Narcissistic Manipulation
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I sit and think of that childhood phrase probably way more than I should. There is a method to the madness behind such a statement – words cannot hurt you; at least not in the way sticks and stones do. Sticks and Continue reading
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Recognizing Manipulative Behavior: My Experience with Love Bombing and Grooming
“How did you two meet?” This was a question I usually hoped would not be asked once my now ex-husband and I were dating. It wasn’t because it was incredibly scandalous, however it wasn’t exactly “normal”. In summary, we were dating other people and hung out together quite often for a short time. In the Continue reading
Hold My Halo and Pass the Wine 