Southern women are inundated with rules starting early-from always wearing sensible shoes to never talking about death to the dying, and certainly not relying on song lyrics for marriage therapy. Nevertheless, Katherine Snow Smith keeps doing things like falling off her high heels onto President Barack Obama, gaining dubious status as the middle school "lice mom," and finding confirmation in the lyrics of Miranda Lambert after her twenty-four-year marriage ends. Somehow, despite never meaning to defy Southern expectations for parenting, marriage, work, and friendship, Smith has found herself doing just that for over four decades. Luckily for everyone, the outcome of these "broken rules" is this collection of refreshing stories, filled with vulnerability, humor, and insight, sharing how she received lifelong advice from a sixth-grade correspondence with an Oscar-winning actress, convinced a terminally ill friend to write good-bye letters, and won the mother of all "don't give up" lectures by finishing a road race last (as the pizza boxes were thrown away). Rules for the Southern Rule Breaker will resonate with every woman, southern or not, who has a tendency to wander down the hazy side roads and realizes the rewards that come from listening to the pull in one's heart over the voice in one's head.

Jill Sherer Murray lived in a dead-end relationship into her forties before she finally let it go. She was like millions of women who struggle with whether to stay in a loveless marriage, a bad relationship, or give up on dating altogether, believing love isn't in the cards. You may be struggling with a similar decision yourself. Perhaps you're terrified of being single, and yet you don't truly feel you're living the life you want. With warmth and honesty, Murray shows you how letting go-of feeling stuck, afraid, and alone, and of believing what you've got is all you deserve-can free you from a life that isn't serving you. She knows this is true, because she did it herself-and ultimately attracted the love and life she wanted. Through her story, other women's stories, surprising facts and statistics, and helpful exercises, Big Wild Love will show you the way back to the self you've lost. It will put you on the path to change and teach you that, wherever you are, it's never too late to start anew and find the Big Wild Love you deserve.

This volume elucidates some of the very concrete ways in which Americans misperceive the social world and how we are all subject to biases and illusions. As such, it challenges the assumption in much social science theorizing that people are rational actors by exploring how the machinations of cognition, the effect of our past experiences, the news, and social media feeds all factor into our opinion-making process. The chapters highlight common, and often incorrect, perceptions of population diversity, sexual behavior, the economy, health, and relationships. It shows how correcting these misperceptions of the social world can lead to real behavioral and attitudinal change.

Complete with exercises, reflections, and specially selected tasks, this workbook is written for those suffering from heartbreak (and their therapists) to support them in navigating and managing the pain of breakups. The authors help them learn from their experiences, grow stronger from their suffering, and create healthy and fulfilling relationships. Kathryn Rheem and Clare Rosoman bring their experiences as relationship therapists and devotees of attachment science to offer informed support and encouragement to the broken hearted by providing practical strategies to help readers make sense of and grow from their experiences. Mirroring the therapy process, the book is structured so that readers actively participate in their own healing process with activities that guide their journey session by session. Chapters address attachment strategies, facing fear, riding waves of anger, processing grief and loss, forgiveness, and trusting yourself again. This book will help the reader create a future in which they can know and accept themselves as the perfectly imperfect human they are and create secure bonds with the special people in their life. This workbook is for people who have experienced the loss of a close relationship and are struggling to heal and move forward in their lives, as well as therapists assisting clients in their recovery from relationship loss.

Contemporary Families at the Nexus of Research and Practice integrates current research with clinical theory to establish the most up-to-date, evidence-supported treatment options for unique contemporary families. Each chapter begins with a case study and genogram. A research section that explains family experiences outlined in the case study follows. Finally, a treatment section presents clinical theory and provides an evidence-supported practice. Together, each chapter demonstrates how theory gets translated into practice. Family forms discussed include families of divorce, stepfamilies, families of addiction, impoverished families, families of incarceration, families of cyberbullying, and families of murder victims. Whether you're a professional or a student, this book will provide both relevant research findings and explicit instruction and case material to augment your practice.

Contemporary Families at the Nexus of Research and Practice integrates current research with clinical theory to establish the most up-to-date, evidence-supported treatment options for unique contemporary families. Each chapter begins with a case study and genogram. A research section that explains family experiences outlined in the case study follows. Finally, a treatment section presents clinical theory and provides an evidence-supported practice. Together, each chapter demonstrates how theory gets translated into practice. Family forms discussed include families of divorce, stepfamilies, families of addiction, impoverished families, families of incarceration, families of cyberbullying, and families of murder victims. Whether you're a professional or a student, this book will provide both relevant research findings and explicit instruction and case material to augment your practice.

Here is a comprehensive source of vital information on single parent families in contemporary society. This book analyzes literature and empirical research concerning single parent families and explores issues and challenges they face. Contributing authors from many fields and perspectives examine a broad range of subjects relating to families in which one person is primarily responsible for parenting. The only state-of-the-art compendium on the topic of single parent families available today, the book synthesizes empirical, theoretical, and contemporary literature about the diversity, myths, and realities of single parent families in western countries.Each chapter contains a demographic overview, definitions, a literature review, and implications for practice, research, education, and social policy. Theoretical and conceptual perspectives related to parenting and wider families are included. An analysis, synthesis, and commentary on single parent families concludes the volume. Themes highlighted throughout the book include socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of single parent families, cultural and ethnic features, and legal and ethical components. Some chapter topics include: single parenthood following divorce single parenthood following death of a spouse never married teen mothers and fathers female-headed homeless families adoptions by single parents noncustodial mothers and fathers grandparents as primary parents single parents of children with disabilitiesSingle Parent Families contains additional resources useful for family professionals: an annotated bibliography, a video/filmography, and a national community resource list. The book is intended for a multidisciplinary audience, including sociologists, psychologists, health care professionals, social workers, therapists, and other researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and educators. An ideal primary or reference text for undergraduate and graduate level programs, the book can also serve as a tool for staff development and continuing education in service agencies.

- Complements the forthcoming core text outlining the key principles to this program. - Can be used away from the group scenario, allowing participants to continue the work through easy-to-understand guidance.

AnnaBelle's Spirit" is the follow-up to "The Journey, The Dreams, & AnnaBelle" The writing in this book takes the story to the next level, adding more depth to the already troubling life of AnnaBelle and her two daughters. It tells of her first husband, how he destroyed her young dreams, and forever altered her faith and trust in men. Leaving her with two small children, and a mountain of debt that she alone would have to deal with. Then came the "step -dad from hell." The girls jokingly referred to him as "Daddy Dearest." He ruled their lives for nine miserable years before they were rid of him. AnnaBelle moved her daughters from St Petersburg, eventually settling in Indianapolis. AnnaBelle's work brought her in contact with politicians, movie stars, racers, and then the DiMaggio family after a move to San Francisco. There would never be another man in her life to tell her what to do, or intimidate her daughters. Although this story focuses on AnnaBelle, it eventually includes life from Carolyn's perspective. It follows both women on a journey through a lifetime of challenges, dreams, and temptations. One of Carolyn's decisions continues to haunt her dreams, as well as her waking hours. Both she and her mother possess the gypsy spirit that would prove to be difficult to control at times. The continuing saga of the Wicker and Bollan women attests to the strength of these families. From 1924 to 2007, a lifetime of dreams, a lifetime of journeys. Throughout the book you will find the subtle humor Carolyn uses in everyday life. You will also find family photographs that span the timeline of the story. As with her first book, she hopes this will bring the family to life for her readers.

Builds on psychological narratives and focuses on several main themes, including feelings of insecurity and failure, body issues, negative personality traits and alienation, giving the reader an understanding of the variety of ways in which absent and inadequate fathers affect their daughters. Includes clinical material from the author's own work as well as that of psychoanalysts such as Andre Green ensuring that the book is grounded in both interdisciplinary theory and practice. Schwartz also discusses the poetry of Sylvia Plath, fairytales, and Jung's silence about his own daughters highlighting literary parallels to psychology and elucidating Jungian concepts.

Entrapped Emotions

You feel like you don't belong

You feel no matter what you do,

it feels wrong It's too good to leave and too bad to stay

Yet too many will be hurt if you run away

So you endure, bury yourself deep in thought

Your sanity has been your only escape port

As you dive deep into your inner emotion

The pain sticks like sand washing up from the ocean

With an intensity that won't let you break free

So come look inside the book and you will see

A stealth modern day warfare hidden well

But is it.... Matrimonial bliss or one living hell

It's over--and it really hurts. But as unbelievable as it may seem when you are in the throes of heartache, you "can "move past your breakup. Forget about trying to win your ex back. Forget about losing yourself and trying to make this person love you. Forget it Starting today, this breakup is the best time to change your life for the better, inside and out.

"Getting Past Your Breakup" is a proven roadmap for overcoming the painful end of any romantic relationship, even divorce. Through her workshops and popular blog, Susan Elliott has helped thousands of clients and readers transform their love lives. Now, she'll help you put your energy back where it belongs--on you. Her plan includes: The rules of disengagement: how and why to go "no contact" with your ex How to work through grief, move past fear, and take back your life The secret to breaking the pattern of failed relationships What to do when you can't stop thinking about your ex, texting, calling, checking social networking sites, or driving by the house

Complete with inspiring stories from real people and strategies to jump-start the moving-on process, "Getting Past Your Breakup" is the most effective plan for getting permanently past a breakup, getting your confidence back, and opening yourself to true love.

Arm yourself with the tools you need to parent with confidence, raise happy and independent children, and find the fulfillment you deserve. You're getting divorced; you're angry, afraid, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Stop, stop and breathe. What lies ahead is a journey that starts now -- with the focus on you becoming the person you want to be and the parent you need to be. You can get through this and "Not At Your Child's Expense" can help. Do you feel like you'll never laugh again, engage in a meaningful exchange with your former spouse or parent with confidence? You can and you will. You're taking the first step right now by getting the help you need as you navigate through the stages of establishing a long-term, mutually-beneficial co-parenting relationship. Judith Fitzsimmons' successful co-parenting story might seem uncommon, but it is an experience that, with the right tools and attitude, you can achieve in your own family unit. "Not At Your Child's Expense" is a guide to help you overcome the obstacles of divorce and co-parenting, find a path to clearer thinking, and develop a healthy family dynamic. "Not At Your Child's Expense" provides valuable, practical ideas that are constructive to you, your co-parent, and, most importantly, your child. While you may not have expected your life to reach this phase, you do have a choice on how to move forward.

""Once upon a time I was perfectly happy--complacent even. But then my world came crashing down and I was suddenly a single mum of two small children, losing sleep over how to pay the bills. The things I learned allowed me to retain my sanity, self-esteem, and sense of humour and to help my children get through the experience. I discovered how to release the traumatic experiences and emotions that were holding me back and find more fun, fulfillment, and balance in my life (not to mention my lovely husband )""
You "can" build a happy new life
Are you a stressed-out single mum, juggling childcare, work and home--and struggling to cope with all the emotional and practical demands on you?
You're not alone "The Single Mum's Survival Guide" is packed with words of inspiration, comfort, wisdom and experience from a host of real-life single mums and expert professionals to make life easier, help you on your way, and put your mind at rest with answers to questions such as:
How do I tell the kids? How do I get over this split and move on? Why is my child behaving like this and what should I do about it? How will I feel when my kids meet his new girlfriend? How do I deal with all the legal stuff? How can I manage on this little money? How can I have more energy when I'm so tired all the time? Is it OK to ask for help--and who can I ask? Can I ever forgive my ex? Can I "really" be single and happy? When is it time to start dating again--and how will I know if he's Mr. Right? Vivienne Smith is a writer, trainer, presenter, and certified "n"""e"uro-linguistic programmin"g (NLP) and hypnosis practitioner. She also a Regional Director of the Athena Group, an international networking, training and development business community for female executives and entrepreneurs. Her experience as a single mum prompted Vivienne to write a book about the subject. It has been the fulfilment of a long term ambition to turn what was at the time a negative and distressing experience into an opportunity to help others get through similar challenges. Now happily remarried, she lives with her husband and two sons in beautiful West Sussex, on the south coast of England.

This highly anticipated second edition of Splitting is fully revised and updated, and includes new chapters on abuse, alienation, and false allegations; as well as information about the four types of domestic violence, protective orders, and child custody disputes. Are you divorcing someone who's making the process as difficult as possible? Are they sending you nasty emails, falsifying the truth, putting your children in the middle, abusing you, or abusing the system? Are they "persuasive blamers," manipulating and fooling court personnel to get them on their side? If so, you need this book. For more than ten years, Splitting has served as the ultimate guide for people divorcing a high conflict person, one who often has borderline or narcissistic (or even antisocial) personality disorder. Among other things, it has saved readers thousands of dollars, helped them keep custody of their children, and effectively guided them through a difficult legal and emotional process. Written by a family law attorney and therapist, and the author of Stop Walking on Eggshells, Splitting is an essential legal and psychological guide for anyone divorcing a persuasive blamer: someone who suffers from borderline personality disorder (BPD), narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), and/or antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). This second edition includes new information about antisocial personalities; expanded information about domestic violence, child abuse, alienation, and false allegations; how to approach protective orders and deal with child custody disputes; and a new chapter on how to successfully present your case to decision makers. Turn to this guide to help you: *Predict what your spouse may do or say in court *Take control of your case with assertiveness and strategic thinking *Choose a lawyer who understands your case *Learn how e-mails and social networking can be used against you If you need help navigating a high-conflict divorce from a manipulative spouse, this book includes all of the critical information you need to work through the process of divorce in an emotionally balanced, productive way.

2019 Washington State Book Awards Finalist in Biography & Memoir On the morning before Halloween in 2007, Sarah receives a phone call from her husband's arborist colleague: Matt, her spouse of seven years and father of their two small children, has been severely injured by a falling tree branch while working in a neighborhood east of Seattle. Visions of their future go dark as she learns to care for the man she depended on for support. Faced with choices about how to behave through this unexpected journey, she takes as many steps back as she does forward and begins a rite of passage she never imagined.

The divorce rate has been rising throughout the 20th century, with a significant increase in the last 20 years, so that now some 45 per cent of marriages currently end in divorce. How and why has this happened? How has the law and the State changed to accommodate and facilitate this? What changes in society's attitudes have affected family breakdowns? To answer these questions Gibson takes a multi-disciplinary approach to examine the history, demography, sociology, politics and policy of divorce. In this study, the author traces the interaction between social change, marriage patterns, family law and parliamentary legislation from the 18th century to the present. He then looks at family patterns and policy choices; examines such matters as the welfare and financial support of children and their carers in the light of the new Child Support Act; and reviews the two-tier court system for handling the casualties of broken marriages.

The divorce rate has been rising throughout the 20th century, with a significant increase in the last 20 years, so that now some 45 per cent of marriages currently end in divorce. How and why has this happened? How has the law and the State changed to accommodate and facilitate this? What changes in society's attitudes have affected family breakdowns? To answer these questions Gibson takes a multi-disciplinary approach to examine the history, demography, sociology, politics and policy of divorce. In this study, the author traces the interaction between social change, marriage patterns, family law and parliamentary legislation from the 18th century to the present. He then looks at family patterns and policy choices; examines such matters as the welfare and financial support of children and their carers in the light of the new Child Support Act; and reviews the two-tier court system for handling the casualties of broken marriages.

"Family Transformation Through Divorce and Remarriage" looks at the complete divorce-remarriage-stepfamily cycle in the context of demographic data, the legal process and the systemic theoretical framework. For each phase of the cycle, the author describes the stages of development, summarizes the relevant research and illustrates the effects on family members with case examples. A postscript has been added to the paperback edition to bring the work up-to-date.

A girlfriend-to-girlfriend guide to the three phases of divorce--from the initial shock of separation and what you need to know right away (Deal), to learning to shift the focus away from your ex and onto yourself and figuring out an action plan (Heal), right on through to celebrating the new you, ready for an independent life, and even dating (Reveal). With 12 shared perspectives (the authors and 10 other members of the Maplewood Divorce Club), each reader will find someone to identify with, and will benefit from a sense of community during what can be a very isolating time. A companion website provides another platform where women can come together, ask questions, and share stories. The essential message is that the end of a significant relationship is a great time to take a look at yourself to see what's working and what's not, and determine where you have opportunities to introduce positive changes.