High Conflict Hell

Why does it feel like the abuse didn’t end with divorce?

Because post-separation abuse started.

We discuss what it actually looks like after divorce or separation—and how family court, co-parenting, money, parenting plans, and even the kids themselves can become tools for continued control. We break down our own experiences with high-conflict co-parenting and how a poorly structured parenting plan—especially a 50/50 schedule—can create endless opportunities for conflict long after the relationship is over.

And because this is High Conflict Hell, we somehow make our way from legal abuse and financial control to expensive yogurt, penis pumps, new girlfriends, birthday-party drama, and Family of Destruction Court. Welcome to hell. 😂

In this episode:

• What is post-separation abuse? The patterns of intimidation, control, harassment, discrediting, financial abuse, legal abuse, and isolation that can continue—or escalate—after a relationship ends.
• Legal abuse & family court: When court motions, contempt threats, attorneys, evaluations, custody disputes, and the legal process itself become another source of control.
• Financial abuse after divorce: Court costs, attorney fees, school tuition, extracurriculars, reimbursements, stopped checks, and the exhausting fight over who owes what.
• When the kids get caught in the middle: How ongoing conflict between parents can directly affect children—even when everyone insists the adult issues are “separate” from parenting.
• 50/50 parenting plans & high-conflict co-parenting: Why frequent exchanges and vague parenting-plan language can create more opportunities for conflict and continued contact.
• Building a better parenting plan: Fewer exchanges, neutral exchange locations, clearer terms, and other ways to reduce opportunities for post-separation conflict.
• Discrediting & the “crazy ex” narrative: What happens when mental health accusations, alienation claims, and attacks on a parent’s credibility become part of the litigation.
• The red flags that were there before divorce: From controlling spending to questioning what you buy at the grocery store—sometimes the expensive yogurt really was trying to tell you something.
• Why leaving doesn’t always end the abuse: Divorce can end the marriage without ending the power struggle, particularly when children keep two people legally connected for years.
• Plus: New love, forgotten brunch plans, birthday-party betrayal, mosquito-bite titties, penis pumps, and why family court might need to be renamed Family of Destruction Court.

Post-separation abuse. High-conflict divorce. Co-parenting. 50/50 custody. Financial abuse. Legal abuse. Family court. Parenting plans. We’re getting into all of it—because sometimes getting divorced is only the beginning.

https://www.parentingplan101.com/ 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/docufam-custody-event-log/id6761786386

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Summer trips, communication breakdowns—and somehow… love 💗

This week we’re sharing the parenting stories that perfectly capture what high-conflict co-parenting can look like in real life. Summer vacation schedule turns into complete chaos when a parent doesn’t know when kids are leaving, where they’re going, or when they’re coming back.....while the kids somehow end up becoming smack in the middle of chaos.

We talk about co-parenting communication, custody exchanges, summer parenting schedules, traveling with kids after divorce, and parenting plans—including why something as simple as communicating travel dates can become a battle in a high-conflict situation.

And then… this episode takes a turn...💗

We have a very important apology to make to an ex-husband. 

In This Episode

• Summer trips & parenting stories: The real-life chaos of coordinating kids, vacations, work, exchanges, and two households.
• High-conflict co-parenting: How a simple schedule change can turn into an entire ordeal.
• Kids caught in the middle: What happens when children become the messengers for parenting-time and exchange information.
• Co-parenting communication: The difference between sharing basic information and using communication—or withholding it—as a form of control.
• Summer custody schedules: When the parenting plan says one thing, but what actually happens with the kids looks completely different.
• Traveling with kids after divorce: How much information should you give the other parent when taking the kids out of state?
• Parenting plans: Why travel, notice, exchanges, and communication are things worth thinking about before there’s a conflict.
• The 3:00 PM Safeway showdown: One custody exchange, multiple messages, three kids in the middle, and a whole lot of unnecessary chaos.
• A minor modification with major problems: An update from the other side of our high-conflict parenting lives.
• And somehow… love. 💗 Jen remembers exactly what it feels like to fall hard —and realizes she may owe her ex-husband an apology. Sort of. 
• Plus: tonic water, Mom’s questionable gin-and-tonic wisdom, party anxiety, and our Weeks in Hell.

Parenting stories. High-conflict co-parenting. Divorce. Summer custody. Parenting plans. Communication breakdowns. Family court. And falling in love.

https://www.parentingplan101.com/ 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/docufam-custody-event-log/id6761786386

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We’re breaking down gaslighting—what it actually is, what it isn’t, and how lying and manipulation can slowly make you question your own reality. This one gets personal as we dive into a recent breakup and the complicated reality of dating, relationships, and starting over when you have kids.

• What is gaslighting? The difference between a lie, manipulation, and a pattern of actual gaslighting.
• Gaslighting in relationships and marriage: How repeated denial and rewriting reality can make you stop trusting your own instincts.
• Cheating, infidelity & betrayal: Jen tells the full story of the Pink Hair saga—a naked photo, years of denials, and eventually finding out what really happened.
• When your gut knows before you do: Why we can sense something is wrong while still allowing someone else to convince us otherwise.
• Gaslighting after divorce: How patterns from toxic or high-conflict relationships can follow you long after the relationship ends.
• Dating after divorce & toxic relationships: Recognizing old patterns, setting boundaries, and figuring out what a healthy relationship actually feels like.
• Breakups & moving on: That moment when you finally stop waiting for someone else to give you closure.
• And, of course, family court, co-parenting, parenting-plan drama, exes, dating, and our Weeks in Hell.

https://www.parentingplan101.com/ 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/docufam-custody-event-log/id6761786386

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What is a Motion for Reconsideration, and what happens when a family court judge denies it?

In this episode we break down the latest ruling in Jen’s Washington family court case—and for once, we’re not the losers.

Jen’s ex-husband asked the court to reconsider its previous ruling involving a requested mental health evaluation. 

We walk through what a Motion for Reconsideration actually is, why the judge again found that a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) request is not the same thing as a court order, and what the ruling says about trying to compel a CR 35 psychological examination in Washington family court.

We also talk about the thousands of dollars families can spend litigating psychological evaluations, attorney fees, fee shifting, allegations of intransigence, and the financial realities of high-conflict custody and parenting-plan litigation.

Then we read an email from a listener—and clinical psychologist—that forces us to look at Jen’s case from a different perspective: Are we giving her ex-husband too much benefit of the doubt by blaming his attorney for the escalating conflict?

That conversation takes us into coercive control, manipulation, weaponized incompetence, triangulation, DARVO, gray rocking, post-separation abuse, financial abuse, and the ways high-conflict family court litigation can become an extension of an unhealthy relationship dynamic.

And underneath all of it is the question we keep coming back to on High Conflict Hell: What happens when a court system that is supposed to resolve family conflict becomes part of the conflict itself?

Also: soccer injuries, dating, Jen’s secret new love interest, and the deeply embarrassing realization that apparently everyone has a podcast now.

In this episode:
• Motion for Reconsideration explained in plain English
• Washington family court and CR 35 psychological examinations
• Guardian ad Litem recommendations vs. court orders
• Mental health evaluations in custody and parenting-plan cases
• Attorney fees, litigation costs, and intransigence
• High-conflict divorce and custody litigation
• Coercive control and post-separation abuse
• DARVO, triangulation, and weaponized incompetence
• Gray rocking a high-conflict co-parent
• Financial abuse through family court litigation
• And, somehow, Jen finally wins something in family court

https://www.parentingplan101.com/ 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/docufam-custody-event-log/id6761786386

https://www.highconflicthell.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn5xLFQKCaDCsVmeSwyQtuMydN-_xRj95O7286KH9LquDyIjAbTmDGt9baG9s_aem_0haCDjtc8nivJDk4bCOUpQ

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We take a deep dive into the Lindsay Clancy trial, the heartbreaking story of a mother whose life unraveled amid postpartum psychosis, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, psychiatric medications, and repeated pleas for help. We discuss the latest trial testimony, Lindsay Clancy's mental health journey, her treatment history, suicide attempt, and the legal battle over whether a woman suffering from severe perinatal mental illness should be viewed through the lens of punishment or compassion.

We also explore the broader conversation this case has sparked about maternal mental health, postpartum mental health, suicide, psychiatric medication, the stigma surrounding postpartum psychosis, and how both criminal court and family court can treat women navigating mental illness, trauma, and motherhood. Whether you're following the Lindsay Clancy trial, looking to better understand postpartum psychosis, or interested in the intersection of women's mental health and the legal system, this episode offers thoughtful legal analysis and an honest conversation about the real story behind the headlines.

Content Warning: This episode discusses suicide, child death, postpartum psychosis, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, maternal mental illness, trauma, domestic abuse, and the family and criminal court systems, which some listeners may find distressing.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, medical, or mental health advice or create an attorney-client relationship.

https://www.parentingplan101.com/ 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/docufam-custody-event-log/id6761786386

https://www.highconflicthell.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn5xLFQKCaDCsVmeSwyQtuMydN-_xRj95O7286KH9LquDyIjAbTmDGt9baG9s_aem_0haCDjtc8nivJDk4bCOUpQ

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What happens when a mother loses custody through an ex parte court order without a full trial?

In this episode of High Conflict Hell, Hope Rose shares her years-long family court battle, including how she says her son was removed through an emergency custody order, why she chose not to comply with that order for 67 days, and what happened after.

Hope discusses navigating family court as a self-represented litigant, custody evaluations, allegations of domestic abuse, expert testimony, and the emotional toll of prolonged custody litigation. She also explains how she's turned her experience into advocacy for other protective mothers facing high-conflict custody disputes.

If you're interested in family court, child custody, protective mothers, ex parte custody orders, custody evaluations, parental rights, domestic abuse, or high-conflict co-parenting, this conversation offers one mother's perspective on the system and the lasting impact of family court litigation.

Register for the FREE Family Court Transformation Summit, August 10 -14, 2026 hosted by Hope Rose (and come see JeniLynn speak August 10). 

The Family Court Transformation Summit brings together attorneys, mental health professionals, advocates, experts, and parents to discuss the realities of today's family court system. Learn about child custody, domestic abuse, protective mothers, high-conflict co-parenting, custody evaluations, parental rights, and practical strategies for navigating family court while protecting your mental health.

Whether you're currently in family court, supporting someone who is, or working to reform the system, this free virtual summit offers education, resources, and hope.

Register for free: www.familycourtsummit.com

https://www.parentingplan101.com/ 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/docufam-custody-event-log/id6761786386

https://www.highconflicthell.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn5xLFQKCaDCsVmeSwyQtuMydN-_xRj95O7286KH9LquDyIjAbTmDGt9baG9s_aem_0haCDjtc8nivJDk4bCOUpQ

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Family law attorney Meg Groff has spent more than 40 years fighting for women, children, and survivors of domestic violence—and she's still in the fight. She is the author of Not If I Can Help It: A Family Lawyer's Battles for Justice for Victims of Domestic Violence and the Poor, available wherever books are sold.

In this episode, Meg explains why children in custody cases should never be treated as property, why a one-size-fits-all presumption of 50/50 custody can harm children, and how the family court system often prioritizes parental rights over children's safety and well-being.

Meg shares the personal experience that inspired her legal career, discusses the rise of the fathers' rights movement, the use of parental alienation claims in custody litigation, and why parenting plans can sometimes unintentionally create more conflict instead of less.

Whether you're navigating a custody battle, practicing family law, advocating for survivors of domestic violence, or simply interested in how the family court system works, this conversation offers more than four decades of insight into one of the most misunderstood areas of the law.

Meg's book: Not If I Can Help It: A Family Lawyer's Battles for Justice for Victims of Domestic Violence and the Poor(available wherever books are sold).

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Every family law case is unique, and the information shared in this episode should not be relied upon as a substitute for advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. Listening to this podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship.

https://www.parentingplan101.com/ 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/docufam-custody-event-log/id6761786386

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This week, we’re back in family court with a motion to reconsider after Daddy’s request to compel a mental health evaluation was denied. We break down what a motion to reconsider actually is, why court rules matter, and how repeated motions and high-conflict litigation can financially and emotionally impact the parents—and ultimately their children.

Then comes the plot twist: Mom and Dad start communicating directly through OurFamilyWizard, and it turns out they may agree on far more than their court filings would suggest. We talk settlement, attorney fees, mental health evaluations, changing circumstances, and why a detailed parenting plan can prevent every disagreement from becoming another trip to court.

And because this is High Conflict Hell, we mix family court with real-life parenting stories, parenting humor, and the absolute chaos of being a mom. One very important message gets misread while someone is naked, there are multiple tits-out parenting stories, a soccer mom eats shit in the street, and a family beach day goes slightly off the rails.

High-conflict lawyers, motions to reconsider, funny parenting stories, co-parenting, custody battles, single mom life, and tits out. Next time, we’ll try to put our clothes on before crying in bed with our ex-boyfriends while messaging our ex-husbands.

Not legal advice, therapeutic advice, or relationship advice. 

https://www.parentingplan101.com/ 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/docufam-custody-event-log/id6761786386

https://www.highconflicthell.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn5xLFQKCaDCsVmeSwyQtuMydN-_xRj95O7286KH9LquDyIjAbTmDGt9baG9s_aem_0haCDjtc8nivJDk4bCOUpQ

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We are back with real-life parenting stories involving car crashes, summer vacations, school district issues, and family court.

We share what happens when warnings about typical teenage behavior get dismissed when two parents cannot effectively communicate—and more than $20,000 in damage occurs. The accident opens up a much bigger conversation about teenage behavior, parental accountability, 50/50 custody, and the difference between sharing parenting time on paper and actually sharing the mental, financial, and logistical work of raising children.

We also get into school district disputes, private school tuition, medical appointments, extracurricular expenses, and what happens when a parenting plan doesn’t clearly address some of the decisions parents end up fighting about later.

We share a family court story that shows exactly why the details of a parenting plan matter. A dispute over summer vacation, out-of-state travel, parenting time, exchange locations, and a temporary parenting plan quickly escalates into attorney emails, accusations of withholding the children and parental alienation, and threats of going back to court.

But when Mom and Dad are finally able to communicate directly through OurFamilyWizard, the conflict looks very different.

We discuss:

• High-conflict co-parenting and family court
• Parenting plans and custody agreements
• 50/50 custody vs. 50/50 parenting
• School districts and educational decision-making
• Private school tuition and shared child expenses
• Summer vacation provisions in parenting plans
• Out-of-state travel with children after divorce
• Parenting-time exchanges and neutral exchange locations
• Temporary parenting plans and custody modifications
• Attorney conflict and escalating family law litigation
• OurFamilyWizard and co-parent communication
• Allegations of parental alienation and withholding parenting time
• Teenagers, boundaries, consequences, and co-parenting between two homes
• Why detailed parenting plans can prevent future custody disputes

If you’re navigating divorce, child custody, a parenting plan, a custody modification, or high-conflict co-parenting, this episode is a real-life look at how seemingly ordinary parenting issues—school, vacations, transportation, communication, and schedules—can become major disputes in family court.

Learn more about parenting plans at ParentingPlan101.com. The first class is free.

High Conflict Hell is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not provide legal, medical, or therapeutic advice.

https://www.parentingplan101.com/ 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/docufam-custody-event-log/id6761786386

https://www.highconflicthell.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn5xLFQKCaDCsVmeSwyQtuMydN-_xRj95O7286KH9LquDyIjAbTmDGt9baG9s_aem_0haCDjtc8nivJDk4bCOUpQ

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We break down what a status conference is, what to expect, and how it fits into a high-conflict child custody case in Family Court. We record before and after Jen’s real-life status conference as she navigates a minor parenting plan modification, jurisdiction issues, mediation delays, discovery disputes, a Guardian ad Litem (GAL), attorney conflict, and the mounting financial cost of family court litigation.

We also talk about why understanding family court procedure matters—especially if you're representing yourself pro se—and how a custody case can spiral into tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees before parents ever make it to trial.

Plus, Daddy makes another appearance, we discuss why poorly written parenting plans can create even more conflict.

If you're navigating family court, a custody battle, a parenting plan modification, or a high-conflict co-parenting situation, this episode offers a real-life look behind the curtain at a process that can feel confusing, intimidating, and anything but transparent.

Learn more about creating stronger parenting plans at ParentingPlan101.com.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not provide legal, medical, mental health, or therapeutic advice.

https://www.parentingplan101.com/ 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/docufam-custody-event-log/id6761786386

https://www.highconflicthell.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn5xLFQKCaDCsVmeSwyQtuMydN-_xRj95O7286KH9LquDyIjAbTmDGt9baG9s_aem_0haCDjtc8nivJDk4bCOUpQ

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