Several years ago when I was a stay at home mother getting divorced, I didn’t know one divorced person. I felt very alone, and I wish I’d have had a guide book to help me navigate the process and tell me what to expect.
Similar to the bestselling book, “What to expect when You’re Expecting…” (which every woman on earth read while pregnant), a divorce guide book would have been helpful in addressing all the things the stay at home mother just doesn’t know while getting divorced. These include the process, how to cope, going back to work, and of course, the dreaded dating scene.
So, when I found out about divorce attorney, Jay Babbitt’s eBook, “How to Survive Your Divorce: A Stay At Home Mother’s Guide,” I thought I was excited to share it! Here is Babbitt’s guest post, in which he gives a sneak peak into his book.
Knowledge is Power for the Stay at Home Mother
by Jay Babbitt
Divorce is never even an option — until it is. The impossible is now the inevitable, and the idea of coping with this major life change can feel overwhelming. You weren’t prepared for this, because who is?
As a divorce lawyer, I know how painful and dizzying this experience can be. I’ve walked clients through these steps many times, and they’re often the most heart-wrenching moments they’ll ever go through. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned…
Knowledge is power.
But it’s also peace of mind. It’s hard to wrap your mind fully around the end of your marriage, let alone consider how this move will affect your children, your home, your finances, and almost every other aspect of your life. Knowing what to expect during a divorce can help stabilize your worldview when it turns upside down.
In my experience, it helps to have a guide, both figuratively and literally. Hopefully you have someone in your life that will stand beside you during this difficult process. But having trusted advice from a professional who’s been there can also be a tremendous relief.
So I’d like to introduce you to our comprehensive eBook: “How to Survive Your Divorce: A Stay At Home Mother’s Guide.”
In this free book, we discuss everything from social media during divorce to the dating world. We help you decide whether to return to the workforce, show you ways to cope with the change, and show you how to secure yourself financially.
There’s plenty you can get started on right away, such as beginning to gather important financial information:
- Income and expenses
- Assets and investments
- Debts (shared and personal)
- Bank statements
- Titles and registration documents
- Tax returns
If you haven’t already, you can start taking steps to minimize the impact of a divorce on your children, and you can do this by simply listening to them. They’ve probably already sensed something’s up, even if you haven’t told them the full story. And sometimes, I’ve found, their fears and concerns can be easily calmed with reassuring words and a hug.
You might be wondering whether to return to work, too.
If you’ve been out of the workforce for a while, you might consider part-time or freelance jobs (which have the added benefit of reducing daycare costs). While they might not be a long-term sustainable solution, they can be viable options while you search for something more permanent.
You can also start taking a look at your social media accounts and giving them makeovers. Not only could they keep you from getting a job, but they might also hurt you in a divorce. Trust me; I see more divorce cases that include “social media evidence” with each passing year.
Finally, while divorces are certainly tough and painful, they can also be liberating, especially to the stay at home mother. You’ve heard the phrase “finding yourself.” It’s thrown around a lot when discussing post-divorce life, but it’s a cliché for a reason. This sudden life change provides plenty of opportunities for you to explore interests or parts of yourself you might have previously suppressed or ignored, for whatever reason. Here’s another cliché that’s true: There’s no time like the present to live your best life.
If you are a stay at home mother, don’t waste another minute. If you feel like your marriage is spiraling out of your control, grab our guide and get your life going in the right direction. Take baby steps if you have to. You can start by downloading the free eBook here.
Gerald “Jay” Babbitt, the managing partner at Babbitt & Dahlberg LLC, has spent the past 30+ years as a divorce attorney in Columbus, Ohio, earning the respect of his clients along with the central Ohio legal community. Among his many distinctions, Jay has been included in the 20th edition of Best Lawyers in America, is a Certified Arbitrator by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers has secured a spot on the Top 100 Ohio Super Lawyers list. Additionally, he is a continuing legal education lecturer in family and matrimonial law for CLE courses and other valuable divorce seminars in the Midwest.
