Divorce…

Divorce.  What a horrible word.  The very thought of it sends shivers down my spine.  The process of ending a marriage, even a bad one, is difficult to say the least.  It is a small price to pay for happiness, true, and the years since my divorce have been productive, happy and what my life should have been while “on the inside”. What did I leave with; two beautiful daughters, now 15 and 7, debt and a lot of miserable interaction with my ex-spouse.  I think my story is fairly common, I mean how many spouses are there out there that are happy that their ex has moved on and is in a happy healthy relationship.  Not too many I would gather.

So for some time I’ve tried to figure out what to do with my life. I spent all of my twenties and some of my thirties supporting a family and never found time to go back to school.  But what to do?  I don’t really like the business world and I really don’t want to start at the bottom of another career and having it be not something I want to do with my life. I had always planned on going to college, but never found the time or the resources.  Now the time and the resources are there and now I wonder what should I do.  And then it hit me.

I’ve always found Psychology to be a fascinating subject and every time I talk about the in’s and out’s of the human psyche I get a charge.  I also have a passion for a topic that I think many people frown upon…father’s rights.  Too often, Father’s are considered far less than mother’s during the divorce and custody process.  So after talking things over with my wife (she’s amazing I tell you) I decided that I am going to get my degree in Psychology, become and Marriage and Family Therapist  and focus on helping Father’s as they deal with the winding maze of that is divorce.  I wish I had someone who went through the same process that could have supported me during my divorce…that could have helped me to deal with the feelings and anger of having my children used against me at every turn…someone that could have given me the coping skills I needed to get through it.  So, that’s my goal.  I’ve said it.  I’ve started the process and I’m ready to go.

I hope you read along as I go down this path and eventually come out on the other side.  I think it is going to be a good ride and I’m excited at the possibilities. Those of you out there that are dad’s that have been treated poorly by this whole process…this one’s for you, so chime in.  Leave your comments.  I may not be able to help yet, but we will get there together.