Six months into the divorce, Mark is feeling more emotionally even-keeled and less triggered by his ex. He is learning to enjoy his time away from the kids, and more clearly appreciating not having to take care of the needs of another adult. Mark reflects on the challenges of the early stages of divorce and the strategies that helped him get through it.

Topics include:

• Holiday schedule with the kids
• Doing things with the kids that you couldn't do while married to an ex who likes different things
• How to decide if you are ready to date
• Processing and accepting the shared responsibility for the end of the marriage
• In hindsight: What made mediation so hard
• When things are hard, focus on doing the next necessary thing, without trying to think too far ahead ("putting one foot in front of the other")
• The danger of avoiding conflict and arguments, in marriage and in mediation
• Realizing the ex is a different person than the person you loved in the past
• When and how to talk with kids about their time with the ex
• Supporting kids when they're sad about transitioning away from the ex

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