Never thought I would be here, doing this - having to be in a position to ask for help. I am currently going through a divorce that I thought would’ve ended a long time ago. Without going into the details, I’ll say that I am literally shocked that in 2025, this process still favors the one who made the money instead of at least considering the stay at home parent - that gave up two careers to do so. Mediation hasn’t worked and it seems, we may have to go to trial. I am scared to even think about the cost. If I told the entire story, you would think I was making it up.

This entire process has been emotionally taxing, with constant worry about my 15 year old son and the future in general. Along with this, I’ve been looking for full time employment, after being a stay at home mom for ten years. There have been a few times I thought that part was going to work out, but it hasn’t yet. I do have a few interviews coming up. I have had a job, just not full time with benefits.

I have had an attorney since January, and my funds are now very limited. I always knew that divorce was expensive, but honestly thought details mattered. I am learning, only financial items on paper really matter. We were without everything we owned for almost a year. After finally receiving our things a couple of months ago, I’m now going through returned items. Of course, there are damaged and missing items. These missing items I was told were mine to keep.

Guess I never realized how constant the stress of it all would be, and it’s coming from every direction. The financial stress is the hardest. I really want to fight and get what my son and I deserve.

This has been so exhausting, and I feel like an idiot that I believed it would be more amicable. I just want to get back to some sort of normalcy for my son.