Well, if her wedding plans surprised me, I was in for a greater shock when she revealed her intention to quit job and direct attention towards home and child rearing. The initial years of her marital life were tremendously happy. The sparkle in her eyes revealed all.

The couple had a lovely son and, Alison, the full-time mother, enjoyed every moment of it. But once the boy stepped into school, the long hours of the day slightly bored her. Gradually, small fissures developed in her relationship with her husband.

Probably, these were early warning signals indicating that the marriage needed qualitative improvement. However, neither was inclined to put in the required effort. Expectedly, the fissures developed into large cracks that broke the relationship. Both the marital partners seriously contemplated divorce.

Alison, being the initiator of the proceedings, frantically searched for a good solicitor. But her limited economic means proved restrictive. She scouted the internet and finally found the best solicitors available online. These experienced professionals, though experts in family law, charged quite less compared to a high street solicitor. Being online service providers, the few overheads they had entailed cost-benefit for themselves and their clients.

Alison petitioned, stating the unreasonable behaviour of her spouse as the causative factor for the irrevocable breakdown of their marriage. After filling in the ‘Request for service by the court bailiff’ form she had to wait before filing for the ‘decree nisi.’ The solicitors corresponded with the court on her behalf.

While the divorce proceedings were taking place, Alison and her husband visited the mediator. Within a few sessions, the mediator was able to negotiate a good financial settlement. Alison retained the marital home in lieu of pension rights.

Before the divorce proceedings could be through, conflicts escalated on their home front. Everyone feared the damaging impact of these conflicts on her older child who was 8 years old by then.

But to our surprise, it was her younger daughter, a six-month-old infant who exhibited symptoms of stress. The gurglingly happy baby cried frequently and developed digestive problems. Her sleep patterns changed and she no longer slept the peaceful sleep of infants.

Her older son, too, showed signs of insecurity. However, Alison had met counsellors and backed by their expert advice, she effectively alleviated the child’s pain.

After waiting for six weeks and a day, Alison applied for the ‘Decree absolute.’ With the granting of the decree absolute, the marriage was over.

Life after Divorce

Life after divorce was a huge relief for all the concerned people. Alison was relieved, for the constant tensions at home prevented her from leading a happy life. Her husband was in a hurry to terminate the relationship and remarry. The older child, who had witnessed his parents fighting, was greatly relieved after their Divorce.

But relief was intercepted by financial difficulties and an underlying feeling of grief. As per the agreement reached, Alison remained in the marital home with her two children. Her husband shifted to another house close by. Though her ex-spouse was not on the best of terms with her, he was a doting father.

He had long since realised the need for co-operative parenting. The deteriorating academic performance of the child was a problem that required his immediate attention. He also refrained from negatively damaging the children by indulging in acrimonious and bitter fights in the post-divorce period. The older child spent every alternate weekend with his father.

After divorce, Alison’s life was marked with many changes. Through the rapid changes, my friend experienced an all-pervasive feeling of unhappiness. Interacting with friends and family and support groups over the internet, she realised that her pain had renewed her self-confidence. For, it gave her the realisation that she was capable of overcoming difficulties in her life.

With renewed vigour she began rebuilding her life. To overcome her financial difficulties she sought a good job. Her infant baby was taken care of, by her mother.

I just met Alison a few days back. The old sparkle was back in her eyes. The emotional damage caused by divorce was forgotten. She told me that her life had normalised in a span of just two years. Post-divorce, Alison was a much better person than her pre-divorce or even premarital days.


James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. For more information on getting a Divorce seehttp://www.quickie-divorce.com