5 Things You Wouldn't Expect After Divorce

I’m not advocating throwing a divorce party (although that could be fun if it’s where you are) or having your private life appear on Page Six. I’m saying that being secretive about your split because you feel shame only exacerbates that shame and the crippling isolation that comes with it. After my split, my ex squashed the idea of writing the parents of our children’s friends to let them know of our changing family status. But soon after, in the most mortifying email glitch of my life, I accidentally forwarded an email intended for my ex about the week’s co-parenting schedule to 120 8^th grade parents. The replies I received were alternately sympathetic, whacky, and illuminating. But some parents who had been through a split reached out with surprisingly meaningful support and camaraderie. I made a new friend from it, which eventually led unexpectedly to some valuable work. You never know how things will turn out.

[Photo via @daydreamprojects]