through a divorce, filled with everything she needs to think through in order to
always do what is best for her children. The guide is written by Sarah Armstrong
in a conversational tone from one mom to another. Served up in bite-sized
pieces, the goal is to help women with children navigate the entire divorce
process and post-divorce phase in a manner that will ultimately put it in the
category of a “good divorce.”
According to Armstrong, after reflecting on the benefits noted in her book, there
may be more willingness among couples to consider a collaborative-type divorce
arrangement, mediation or an amicable traditional divorce rather than the usual
contentiousness that is all too familiar.
Coping with the stress compassionately
One strategy Armstrong employed was to create a strong network of close
girlfriends and “energy givers” to support herself during the transition. Other
strategies Armstrong notes in her book include how to help children manage their
lives between two homes, how to develop “compartmentalization muscles” to
cope with the stress of divorce and how to handle a year of postdivorce “firsts”
such as birthdays and holidays.
Her top-line advice for moms on achieving a successful divorce agreement
is—first and foremost—to take the high road. Whether negotiating the fine points
of shared custody or suddenly learning that the ex has started dating, taking the
high road means always staying focused on what is best for the children’s well-
being.
Untangling the “knotty” issues
Armstrong tackles a range of knotty issues, from determining co-parenting
schedules to helping children with holiday gift-giving for the ex-spouse. She
points to the day-to-day experience of the child as a yardstick for determining just
how well the transition is going.
As with all things, details matter. Armstrong encourages parents to “minimize the
gaps”—the empty hooks on the wall of family photos, the void where Dad’s
favorite chair used to be. She also urges parents to attend parent-teacher
conferences and sit together at school sporting events to show that Mom and
Dad are still Mom and Dad.
Building a secure foundation at home
Create a home base, Armstrong suggests, to build a sense of security and to
help children know, “This is my home. I belong here.” Even though children may
become professional travelers between homes, Armstrong believes they should
not have to pack a bag each time they spend the night at the other parent’s
place.
Sarah Armstrong is optimistic about the opportunity to have a good divorce and,
using her book as a guide, she is happy to share the keys to getting there.
Sarah Armstrong never expected to write a book. She has a degree in marketing
and played volleyball on scholarship at Georgetown University. Throughout her
career, Sarah has worked in global marketing where she is viewed as an industry
leader in her area of expertise. She loves traveling the world… managing the
juggling act of being a working mom… while raising her daughter, Grace.
It is Armstrong’s sincere hope that parents who want to divorce will choose
what’s best for their children during this life-changing event. The benefits of a
good divorce await them. The book is available online at Amazon and other
book sellers. For more information contact Gaye Carleton,
[email protected] or Christi Cassidy,
[email protected], +1-212-645-1600.