Moms Moving On: Real-Life Advice on Conquering Divorce, Co-Parenting Through Conflict, and Becoming Your Best Self

by Michelle Dempsey-Multack MS, CDS

Overview

Trust your gut, take care of yourself, and find new life on the other side with this “straightforward” (Ilene S. Cohen, PhD, award-winning author of When It’s Never About You), empowering guide to divorce for moms.

We hear it all the time on the news. The divorce rates are rising. More children are being raised in split homes.

But you didn’t think it would happen to you.

Luckily, you’re not alone. Popular divorce coach Michelle Dempsey-Multack not only survived her own divorce but figured out how to move on with her life, just like you will, too. Now happily remarried with a blended family, she’s living proof that no matter which “firsts” you might be experiencing as you end your marriage, and no matter how long you stayed with someone who didn’t meet your needs, your best days are ahead.

Mom’s Moving On is your “go-to guide” (Dr. Elizabeth Cohen, psychologist and author of Light on the Other Side of Divorce), filled with practical, actionable, and empowering advice from someone who has been through it and has come out the other side. Through Michelle’s guidance, you’ll learn how to navigate your divorce with confidence, adjust to life as a single mother, and shift your perspective to find your way back to your best self. From coparenting to dating as a single mother, you’ll learn how to truly move on and create the life you deserve.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781982184605
Publisher:	S&S/Simon Element
Publication date:	03/07/2023
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	264,766
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Michelle Dempsey-Multack, MS, CDS, is a writer, mom, coach, certified divorce specialist (TM) (CDS), speaker, and genuine girl power enthusiast. She graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in journalism and communication and then earned a double master’s degree in education from Adelphi University. She hosts the weekly podcast Moms Moving On and writes regularly for Parents, Scary Mommy, and others. A former New Yorker, she now lives in Miami with her husband, daughter, and stepdaughter.

Table of Contents

A Few Things Before We Begin… 1

It's Over 3

Chapter 1 Pulling Yourself Out of Bed After Reality Sets In 5

Chapter 2 The Five W's of Breaking the News (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How to Spill the Divorce Beans) 18

Chapter 3 Uncomfortable Comfort: Dismantling a Family and Life as You Knew It 29

Chapter 4 Getting Laid After Divorce, Part 1 36

Chapter 5 Misery Loves Company: But Friends Are for More than That 44

Chapter 6 Two Hands and Too Much to Handle-Single Parenting Survival Tips 53

Chapter 7 Surviving the First Weekend Without Your Kids 64

Chapter 8 Parenting in Pieces: Surviving Your Time Without the Kids from Now On 73

Chapter 9 Speaking of Kids, They're Ruined Forever, Right? How Kids Process Divorce at Every Age 86

Chapter 10 Co-Parenting Life Hacks for Maintaining Consistency in Two Homes 96

Chapter 11 The Parenting-Plan Secrets No One Has Told You About 106

Chapter 12 My Ex Hates Me. Will His Anger Ever Go Away? 118

Chapter 13 I Hate My Ex. Will My Anger Ever Go Away? 131

Chapter 14 This Isn't About You, It's About Them 138

Chapter 15 "Mommy, What Does Ra-vorced Mean?": The Uncomfortable Questions Your Kids Will Ask and How to Answer Them 146

Chapter 16 Getting Over Betrayal and Gaslighting, and Learning to Trust Your Gut Again 155

Chapter 17 Breaking Old Patterns and Understanding Your Attachment Style 162

Chapter 18 A New Mindset: The Glass Isn't Half-Empty or Half-Full-It's Refillable 171

Chapter 19 Sassy Classy & a Little Bit Badassy-Your Best Self After Divorce 178

Chapter 20 Dos and Don'ts of Dating After Divorce 186

Chapter 21 Getting Laid After Divorce, Part 2 193

Chapter 22 Will I Die Alone? 201

Chapter 23 Breaking the News of New Love: How to Handle It with Your Ex and Kids 209

Chapter 24 Your Happily-Ever-After 217

Chapter 25 All at Once or Nothing at All: The Full Reinvention 225

Chapter 26 One Step Forward, Three Steps Back 234

Epilogue 239

Bonus Your Step-by-Step Journaling

Chapter Blueprint 242

Acknowledgements 249

Notes 253

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2021

"I wasn't dying, losing a limb, or struggling with a life-threatening illness. I was getting divorced. There's a huge difference," writes Moms Moving On podcaster Dempsey-Multack in this compassionate guide to getting back on one's feet after a breakup. She details the ins and outs of separation, single motherhood, and co-parenting, and begins by advising readers to face the fact that their lives have fundamentally changed. She then counsels on how to seek out positive friendships (look for people with boundaries), how to manage time without kids ("recognize that you are lucky"), and finding romance post-divorce (it's "normal to feel like you've done something wrong"). She tackles the hard work of co-parenting, encouraging parents to pick their battles and have honest conversations with kids, and offers no shortage of tips for building back self-esteem. While Dempsey-Multack uses plenty of feel-good affirmations ("Your child deserves a happy mom, not a married one"), the lack of perspective from experts or other divorced parents can leave things feeling narrow. Still, the patience and encouragement on offer will be a boon to women feeling overwhelmed by the end of their marriage. Agent: Joelle DelBourgo, Joelle DelBourgo Assoc. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"Moms Moving On is straightforward and to the point. It's a must-read for anyone going through a divorce, contemplating a divorce, or having been through a divorce. As a marriage and family therapist, I recommend this book to anyone dealing with the emotional challenges of co-parenting, and dealing with the unique challenges faced while getting a divorce. —Ilene S. Cohen, Ph.D. and Award-Winning Author

"If you’re going through a divorce and have young children get your hands on this book! I know from my personal and professional experience that it is essential to have the right guide during this traumatic time of divorce. Michelle Dempsey-Multack provides a honest, funny and deeply real look at the struggles and triumphs of going through a divorce. She covers all the sticky areas no one else wants to talk about. She highlights helpful strategies to manage the difficult situation as well as who to reach out to when you need help. You need a go-to guide for this difficult time and I highly recommend picking up this book. Moms Moving On is a gift to all moms who are making the brave choice to move on past their marriages." —Dr. Elizabeth Cohen, psychologist known as “the Divorce Doctor” and author of Light on the Other Side of Divorce

"This book is what every mother who is either contemplating divorce, presently going through divorce, or living through a divorce needs to read in order to feel more empowered and secure as a parent and as a woman, particularly during a time that tends to challenge one’s confidence and self-assurance. Michelle’s authenticity and relatability feels trustworthy, and will leave mothers feeling like they are speaking to a best friend who just happens to be an expert in the area. This book can be an incredible resource to help mothers transition from "surviving" mode to "thriving" mode!" —Evelyn Mendal, LMHC & Early Childhood Expert

From the Publisher

02/01/2022

After her own separation, Dempsey-Multack noticed the lack of social support for divorced parents, particularly mothers, which inspired her to become a divorce coach. She created an online community, a podcast, and now this book to show single parents that there are better days ahead. Her book is sometimes sarcastic and witty, and always informative. Starting with the hard moments immediately following divorce (getting out of bed after reality sets in; breaking the news to friends and family) she guides readers on having a fulfilling post-divorce sex life and, in cases of shared custody, dealing with kid-free days. Dempsey-Multack also tackles the stressful emotional situations that might accompany divorce: helping children process while parents themselves are still struggling; dealing with one's own anger at a spouse, as well as with the spouse's anger; working through betrayal; and changing old patterns that may have been destructive. VERDICT A witty, supportive, and relatable how-to manual for divorced parents of any gender.

Library Journal