The Good Divorce® Show

In this episode of The Good Divorce Show™, Karen McNenny speaks with Celia Kibler about her journey through divorce and the positive impact of blended families. They discuss the importance of maintaining a respectful co-parenting relationship, empowering children, and creating a supportive environment for kids in a divorce situation. Celia shares her experiences of navigating the complexities of co-parenting across states, managing family dynamics, and fostering connections among siblings. The conversation emphasizes the significance of rituals, flexibility, and communication in parenting, especially during the challenging teenage and young adult years.

About Celia Kibler

Celia Kibler is an Award-Winning (Mom’s Choice and International Impact Book Awards) Best-Selling Author of Raising Happy Toddlers:

How to Build Great Parenting Skills & Stop Yelling at Your Kids, an International Speaker, a Family Empowerment Coach and the founder of the International Day of Calm (held annually on April 5), Pumped Up Parenting and Funfit® Family Fitness. She is the Mom of 5 kids; 2 she gave birth to & 3 she gained from marriage; as well as a Grandma of 9. She has been a real-life parent for over 41 years and has successfully parented a blended family for over 29 years.

Celia is on a Mission to stop 10,000,000 Parents from Yelling at Their Kids.

• https://www.facebook.com/celia.kibler/
• https://www.instagram.com/parenting_expert_toddlers
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/celiakibler/
• https://www.pumpedupparenting.com/

Joining The Good Divorce Coach™, Karen McNenny, on this week's episode is Heather Quick, founder and CEO of Florida Women's Law Group. They discuss Heather's journey into family law, the importance of empowering women during divorce, and the various challenges they face, including financial infidelity and substance abuse. Heather emphasizes the need for women to understand their financial rights and the importance of building a support team during the divorce process. The conversation also touches on the impact of divorce on children and the necessary precautions to ensure their safety.

Heather B. Quick, Esq.

Founder, Owner, CEO, & Attorney of Florida Women's Law Group in Jacksonville, Florida

⁠https://www.floridawomenslawgroup.com/⁠

Social Links for Heather B. Quick

• https://www.facebook.com/4womenlaw

• https://www.instagram.com/4womenlaw/

• https://www.linkedin.com/company/floridawomenslawgroup/?viewAsMember=true

More About Heather B. Quick

Heather B. Quick is the founder and CEO at Florida Women’s Law Group. She has a Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law (2000) and is licensed to practice law in Florida and District of Columbia.

Heather started her legal career as an Assistant State Attorney for the 13th Circuit of Florida, prosecuting misdemeanor crimes and then transitioned to private practice. With 24 years of legal experience, including 19 years specializing in family law, Heather is a current member of the Florida Bar Association, Jacksonville Bar Association, and Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association.

Heather's professional and community involvement extends beyond her passion for helping women in the legal space, she is also a level 200-RYT Certified Yoga Instructor. Heather has authored four books, with a fifth in progress: "Women’s Guide to Divorce in Florida," "Is Divorce Right for You?" and "Women’s Guide to Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur," "Time To Fly: The Untold Stories of Courageous Women Conquering Divorce," and "Discovering Me: a Guided Journal." Furthermore, Heather is the creator and host of the podcast "Women Winning Divorce," where she engages in discussions on family law topics and trends with industry leaders on a weekly basis. A native of Jacksonville, Heather, along with her husband, reside in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

The Good Divorce Coach™, Karen McNenny, speaks with Kelly and Kyle, who share their unique journey of co-parenting without a formal marriage or divorce. They discuss their initial relationship, the decision to have a child, and the challenges they faced during pregnancy and early parenting. The conversation highlights their mutual respect and support for each other as they navigate the complexities of raising their daughter, Charlotte, in separate households. They also touch on the introduction of new partners and how that has shaped their family dynamics, emphasizing the importance of love and communication in co-parenting.

Takeaways

• Co-parenting can be a positive experience without marriage
• Children can thrive in non-traditional family structures
• Open communication is key to successful co-parenting
• It's important to allow children to feel their emotions
• Creating a supportive environment benefits everyone involved
• Flexibility in parenting arrangements can ease transitions
• Building a village of support enhances family life.
• Navigating new relationships requires understanding and patience
• Love can transcend traditional family boundaries
• Choosing love over conflict can reshape family dynamics

Two creatives, Erin and Mitch, approached their divorce with compassion, grace and intention. Even their mediator wondered if they should actually get divorced. Listen as they remember announcing their divorce to a group of friends at Mitch’s birthday party and how their two children overruled the standing dog-policy of the family. After years of marriage, and now 8 years post-divorce, they find themselves consistently turning to each other for parenting support and guidance. Most notable, Mitch and Erin have maintained a fluid and supportive approach to their parenting schedule. This interview is filled with heart and wisdom.

What does a Good Divorce look like from a child's perspective? Karen gets the straight answers from her own daughter, 18-year-old Sophia, who reflects on 12 years of living across two homes, on watching her parents move on, and on how her experience shaped her ideas about family, relationships, and love.

takeaways

• Divorce can be navigated with less conflict and more understanding
• Children can thrive after divorce with the right support
• Preparation and communication are key when discussing divorce with children
• Creating a supportive environment helps children process divorce
• Transition systems can ease the burden of moving between homes
• It's important to maintain a sense of belonging in both homes
• Children should not be used as messengers between parents
• Emotional adjustments are necessary during transition days
• Having a structured approach can simplify co-parenting
• Divorce doesn't have to define a child's future negatively
• Living in two homes requires an adjustment period
• Longer stays in each home help children settle in
• Co-parenting can create a unified family experience
• Children of divorce can feel normal and supported
• Being a child of divorce doesn't have to be shameful
• Co-parenting teams can celebrate family events together
• Privacy in dating is important for children
• A parenting plan helps manage new relationships
• Divorce can lead to stronger sibling bonds
• The experience of divorce can ultimately be positive

In this episode of The Good Divorce Show™, Karen McNenny speaks with tax expert Hubert Johnson about the often-overlooked topic of taxes in the context of divorce. They discuss personal experiences with divorce, the importance of understanding tax implications, and the various filing options available. Hubert shares insights on innocent spouse protection, child tax credits, business ownership, and the complexities of bankruptcy during divorce. The conversation emphasizes the need for informed decision-making and the value of consulting with tax professionals to navigate these challenges effectively.

Hubert Johnson, J.D.

• guardiantaxlaw.com
• www.facebook.com/guardiantaxlaw
• instagram.com/guardiantaxlaw
• youtube.com/@guardiantaxlaw

In this episode of Tea Time with Coach Karen, the focus is on the critical aspect of timing when discussing divorce with children. Karen McNenny emphasizes the importance of being prepared and thoughtful about when to have these conversations, considering various factors such as the child's age, significant events, and emotional readiness. She provides practical advice on how to approach these discussions to minimize emotional distress and foster understanding within the family.

"There's never going to be a good time to tell your children you're getting a divorce."

In this conversation, Karen McNenny interviews Merriam Saunders, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Child Custody Recommending Counselor. They discuss the importance of maintaining a positive co-parenting relationship after divorce, especially when there are neurodivergent children involved. They emphasize the need for parents to continue making joint decisions and supporting their children's relationships with both parents. They also touch on the role of attachment theory in divorce and the challenges of gatekeeping parents.

They highlight the challenges faced by neurodivergent children in two-home arrangements and provide strategies for supporting them.

Merriam shares her experience as a child of divorce and how it influenced her career in helping families navigate divorce. She also shares her books and resources for raising neurodivergent children in divorced families.

More About Merriam: merriamsaunders.com

Merriam's Books Available Here: Amazon Storefront

• FB: fb.com/HowToParentADHD
• IG: @HowToParentADHD
• LI: www.linkedin.com/in/merriam-saunders-lmft-8aaab811/

In this episode, Karen McNenny discusses the challenges and dynamics of having college-age kids in the context of divorce and separation. She reflects on her own experience as a parent of divorce sending her child off to college and the grief of saying goodbye. Karen emphasizes the importance of maintaining a sense of home base for children, even as they become more independent. She advises parents to have conversations and create a plan for how to navigate the summer breaks and holidays when children come back home. Karen also highlights the long-term impact of decisions made during the college years and encourages parents to think ahead and have open communication.

Takeaways

• It is important for children to have a sense of home base and know where they can land, even as they become more independent;
• Parents should have conversations and create a plan for how to navigate the summer breaks and holidays when children come back home;
• Decisions made during the college years can have a long-term impact, so it is important for parents to think ahead and have open communication.

In this conversation, Karen McNenny interviews Jen Schimbeno, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®), about the importance of financial planning in divorce. They discuss the collaborative divorce process and the role of a CDFA® in helping families navigate the financial aspects of divorce. They also highlight the need for logical decision-making and the potential pitfalls of getting caught up in emotional conflicts.

The conversation emphasizes the importance of finding a third way and working towards a settlement that meets the interests and goals of both parties. Karen and Jen discuss the differences between being a neutral CDFA® in the collaborative process and providing financial advising services to families. They also talk about the importance of preserving family resources during divorce and the need for affordable divorce options. Jen shares her passion for helping families navigate divorce with dignity and the impact it has on co-parenting relationships. They emphasize the importance of a supportive framework and proactive approach in divorce.

Season 1 Episode with Brandyn Roark Caires (Co-Founder of Parent Team; discussed in this episode): How to Have a Kid-Centered Divorce

Jen Schimbeno, CDFA®

• ParentTeam.com
• IG: @parentteam
• FB: @parentteam

Jen has over a decade of experience in financial planning with a focus on supporting individuals, businesses, and families. Jen's focus is on helping clients modify behaviors to help them course-correct their financial paths. Additionally, Jen has found a passion for supporting families going through divorce and restructuring. Jen is a trained mediator and an accredited Financial Neutral for the Collaborative Divorce Process. To help further her knowledge and ability to support other professionals and clients, she obtained her CDFA ®

Jen is also the co-founder of Parent Team, an online resource and course for co-parents that helps them keep their kids out of the middle. Jen and her business partner, Brandyn, consult with parents all over the world, guiding them through co-parenting skills and financial decisions to best support children both during and after the divorce is finalized.

Through her work and co-creation of Parent Team, Jen has been awarded opportunities to train and educate other professionals on how to best support families who are navigating divorce. She is passionate about their work within Parent Team and believes when parents and their support systems are given the skills and tools to handle difficult changes in life, both they and their children are better equipped to navigate the challenges.

Additionally, Jen is on the Board of Directors for the Montana Collaborative Professionals Association and is passionate about working closely with mediators, mental health clinicians and attorneys.