Tell someone you are divorced (or getting divorced) and you are sure to get an earful, most times without even asking! “I had a feeling…” “Men are such jerks!” “I never liked him anyhow” “Oh, I’m so sorry, was he cheating?” and my favorite, (and this is usually accompanied by the person putting his or hand on your shoulder): “Let me give you the best divorce advice.”
Most people love to talk versus listen. They jump at the chance to voice their opinions, to speak their minds, to try to impart their own little piece of wisdom onto you, and most of all, to give when they think is…the best divorce advice.
Some divorce advice I have gotten in the past has been GREAT. Pearls of wisdom, valuable gems, and advice that I’ve listened to and was really glad I did.
Then there’s the advice I got that made me smile politely, while in my head I’m rolling my eyes so far back, I’m actually getting a headache.
Here’s who I think gives the best divorce advice, and who you might want to ignore:
The Best Divorce Advice comes from:
Divorced Friends:
Who better to give you suggestions about what to do in certain situations than people who have gone through it? (Like Divorced Girl Smiling!!) They get it. They’ve lived it. They have a good understanding and lots of empathy for what you are going through and certain situations. They’ve done things wrong, they’ve done things right. They’re trying to help you learn from their mistakes and their experiences.
Friends of the opposite sex:
I have to refer to one of my all time favorite movies, “When Harry Met Sally.” Having a friend or friends of the opposite sex is great because you get to hear the guy’s (or girl’s) perspective. The guy can tell you what’s going through the mind of your ex-husband in certain circumstances. A guy’s perspective can be insightful, eye-opening, and it can help you deal with things with a little bit more empathy, now that you have an idea of what your ex might be thinking.
Your best girlfriends:
You know who you can trust and you who can’t. There’s a big difference between your best girlfriend (who has known you forever) versus a few women you’ve been hanging around recently. Your BFF’s will tell you the truth, no matter how much it might hurt. They will also inspire you, make you feel loved, and best of all, laugh with you when you really need to laugh.
Your sister/brother If you have one:
Blood is pretty thick. Even if you aren’t really, really close, your sis or bro will stick by you in divorce. He or she will have your back on this one. And, it’s never too late to get closer to a sibling. Remember that family love is unconditional.
Your therapist:
I have gone to the same therapist on and off since 1994. I’m serious when I say the woman has never been wrong about one thing. It can be infuriating, but facing up to the truth is always better than masking it so you will feel better. A lot of people get angry with their therapists for telling them the truth. Think about that. Also, people think going to therapy means you have to spill out your deepest, darkest secrets, which can be scary for some. You can share as much as you feel comfortable sharing. But remember, therapy works best if you have the courage to share authentically.
Your divorce attorney:
You’re paying your divorce attorney hundreds of dollars per hour, so listen to their advice! There’s a reason it’s expensive. Because they’re not wrong! If you are doubting their advice too much, you need to consider changing attorneys. Plus, they’re in this to help you as much as possible. They are being paid to be on your side, to help you have victories, to help you have a great post-divorce life. So listen to them because it’s in their best interest if you are happy in the long run.
Your gut:
YOUR GUT INSTINCT is never wrong. Listen to its advice. If one of these people above don’t seem genuine, don’t be afraid to stop talking to them. Also, you will be surprised at the answers that come to you through your gut. One of the benefits (one of the only benefits) of being older is that you have more experience and more wisdom, and so sometimes the best divorce advice comes from within.
Beware of divorce advice from:
People who haven’t been in the situation who sound judgmental.
Here’s a good example. Several years ago, I was out with a few friends and a woman was talking about how she was going through a divorce, and her STBX was an alcoholic, and she was afraid to leave her kids with him.
Another woman (who was married–and had no experience with alcoholism) jumped in with the advice, stating that the woman should not allow the STBX to have the kids, how if she does that she is a bad mother, and how she should go to court and get a court order right away to get full custody. I’m sitting there thinking, ‘How the hell do you know what you are talking about? You are married and you don’t live with any alcoholics. The point is, if someone is trying to give advice and they have no experience, you might not want to listen.
Your parents:
God bless them, but they are older and they are tired. They shouldn’t be hearing every detail of your divorce, and they aren’t always in a position to give good advice. Plus, if they have been married for decades, they might encourage you to stick it out because that’s what they know. Or, if they are divorced, they might encourage you to stay or to leave. The bottom line is, your parents are the two people who love you more than anyone on earth. They have the best intentions, but might not be the best advice givers as it pertains to divorce.
Married people:
“If I ever got divorced, I would never get married again.” Every single married person says this, which leads me to my theory that married people are clueless when it comes to divorce advice. I’m not saying they are stupid or have bad intentions. In fact, they might be your best friend and love you dearly. But, there’s a lot they just don’t know.
They don’t know the correct answer on what your custody arrangement should be, or how you feel when your ex is getting remarried. They just don’t. My biggest pet peve was when married people would tell me when it was time for me to start dating. At the beginning of my divorce, they would say, “You’re not ready. Just take some time for yourself.” I thought, “How do you know I’m not ready?” Or, during a time I didn’t want to date, they would say, “You should be dating. You’re getting older. You’re not always going to look like this.” Ugh!!
Bitter divorced people:
When I meet a divorced person, I can tell in 30 seconds if they are bitter and acting victim-like, or if they are healing and on their way to a better life. I try to stay away from bitter people-not just divorced bitter people, actually, but all bitter people. And, I especially don’t take divorce advice from them.
It’s like injecting poison. When you meet someone like this, RUN the other way. Bitter people will paint everything in a negative light. You’re getting older, you’d have more money if you didn’t get divorced, your kids will be affected forever, your ex is an asshole. They only have negative views. Here’s the better way to think: You’re getting wiser, you weren’t happy when you had more money, your kids are doing great, and your ex is a kind person, it just wasn’t the right fit.
The best divorce advice…
…or any advice, honestly, comes from inside of you–from your heart. If you have someone you truly respect, all you have to do is ask yourself, “What would So and So advise me to do?”
For example, my dad was my go-to for advice–in all areas of my life. He died a few years ago, and one of the millions of things I miss about him is that I can’t call him and ask for advice. Business advice, life advice, even love life advice! That said, whenever I feel like I need advice, I say to myself, “What would Dad tell you to do?” and believe it or not, the answer comes to me a great deal of the time.
I’m not sure if my dad is speaking to me from heaven, or if he gave me such great advice for so many years, that it’s programmed into me. I sure hope it’s the first one but either way, it’s a great way to live.
Like this article? Check out, “9 Signs of a Healthy Romantic Relationship”
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