Last week, something happened that stopped me in my tracks.

I recently hired a coach who specializes in working with neurodivergent teens for my son. I was so proud of myself for being proactive… until I told him.

My almost-11-year-old looked at me and said:“You didn’t ask me first?!”

I was speechless.

He was right. I am still treating him like a little kid, planning his life for him without realizing he’s a tween now. He is at a new stage of life, forming his own identity and sense of autonomy as a sovereign being. 🤯

Big Transition for Everyone

Teenagers (and pre-teens) are already navigating hormones, identity shifts, and big emotions. When you add separation or divorce into the mix… it can become overwhelming for everyone.

That’s why in this new episode of Untying the Knot, I sit down with mediator Colette Fortin from Fairway Divorce Solutions (Kitchener–Waterloo) to talk about practical ways to support your teen through this transition.

Here’s what we get into:

• How to break the news to your teen without emotional overload
• If (and how) to ask for their input on living arrangements
• Balancing structure and flexibility for older teens
• What to do if your teen refuses therapy or doesn’t want to see the other parent
• Introducing new partners, navigating graduations, and how to keep your teen out of the crossfire

If you’re lying awake wondering,“Is my teen really okay?”This episode will give you grounding, language, and tools you can use right away.

And if you want more practical tips, Colette also created a short guide for parents navigating separation with teens.

👉 Read it here: A parent’s guide to divorce and teenagers: supporting adolescents through family change

https://fairwaydivorce.com/resources/blog/a-parent-s-guide-to-divorce-and-teenagers-supporting-adolescents-through-family-change/

Summer is supposed to feel light and joyful, right?

But I’ll be honest: this summer has left me completely burned out.

Two kids.Daily camp drop-offs and pickups (sometimes at two different locations). Travel. Birthday parties. Weekend beach trips.And a calendar that never seems to pause.

What finally gave it away?

My temper.

I was snapping at my kids more than usual.

Constantly tired, always rushing and feeling ineffective in all areas.

It reminded me of the old me. That Lisa — during divorce and long after — just kept pushing and producing. “If I could just do more, everything would be okay.”

Cue my inner dialogue…

Ohhhhhhh, how much I wish I were right.

Here’s what I’ve learned (the hard way):

You can’t hustle your way out of burnout.You have to feel, pause, reset and learn to care for yourself before everything else falls apart.

So this month, I told the hardcore A-type Lisa:“Lower your expectations… on Lisa.”

Yup, I talk to myself all the time.

August has been soul-nurturing so far:

• 🧘 A three-day silent meditation retreat at a monastery

• 🚶‍♀️ A 24-hour Truth Walking Women retreat with my coach Dave

• ☀️ A one-day yoga and meditation retreat with my spiritual teacher Mandy

Not to escape.

But to intentionally create space to listen within and come back to myself.

Because if I don’t… I won’t be able to truly show up for my kids, my clients, or myself.

Yes, staying in burnout has a huge cost.

That’s why this week on Untying the Knot, I invited Burnout Recovery Coach Lyndsay Cormier to talk about burnout:

In this powerful conversation, we explore:

• What burnout really is

• Why does it often start during divorce and deepen in solo parenting

• What to do if you’re already burned out

Whether you’re in the thick of divorce, raising kids alone, or quietly drowning under the weight of “doing it all,” this episode is for you.

Last Friday, my daughter stood on stage, beaming with pride at her Junior Kindergarten graduation.

She was so happy. So proud.One of those sweet, fleeting milestones you want to hold onto forever.

And for just a couple of seconds… a wave of sadness came over me. Her father wasn’t there. Again.

He chose to step away from their lives completely. And while I’ve done a lot of healing over the years, there are still moments—quiet, unexpected moments—where grief taps me on the shoulder.

It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t demand. It just lingers, quietly, in the background of a joyful moment.

This is divorce grief.

It’s complicated. It’s layered. And it often catches us off guard, even long after the papers are signed.

That’s why I sat down with Margaret Dennis, a holistic grief coach and multiple grief survivor, to talk about the kind of grief no one prepares us for.

🎧 In this episode, we talk about:

• The difference between grief after death and grief after divorce

• How to know if you’re still stuck in grief (even years later)

• How grief shows up — whether you left or were left

• And how to start healing… not by forcing, but by allowing

Whether your marriage ended last week or five years ago — if you’ve ever thought “Why am I still sad?” or “Shouldn’t I be over this by now?” — this episode is for you.

🎁 Special offer from Margaret:
Book a free 30-minute grief coaching session (just mention the podcast) → https://calendly.com/evolvcoaching/30-minute-coaching-call
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I'm here to support you in turning chaos into clarity and creating a life you love! 💪✨