Restored: Helping Children of Divorce

If you’re from a broken family, you’ve likely experienced extra barriers in your relationship with God. In fact, you might not even believe in God because of what happened in your family. Wherever you’re at, we’re glad you’re here.In this episode, you’ll hear how spiritual direction is a tool you can use to overcome those barriers, heal from the trauma you’ve endured, and become spiritually strong. We also discuss:Feeling guilty for wanting your parents to get divorcedSpecific challenges when relating to God, such as rejecting God as a way to protect yourself and the question “God, is this how you really treat people who love you?Temptation to suicidePersonal fears, such as “Am I going to be like my abusive dad? Will my marriage end up like my parents’ marriage?How deepening your relationship with God helps you heal and feel whole againIf you’ve struggled in your relationship with God and felt far from him, this conversation is for you. Join the coaching waitlist for a counselor or spiritual directorCheck out Franciscan University’s School of Spiritual DirectionShownotes

One night, Maggie’s mother left her family without any explanation. Naturally, Maggie felt extremely abandoned. Following that night and her parents’ divorce, she hated her mom. All the pain led her to cope by using drugs, drinking, and sex.Thankfully, her story transformed. In this episode, you’ll hear:How all that trauma led her to attempt killing herselfHow she opened up to her mom and dad about the way their broken marriage and divorce affected herWhy she feared marriage, but after overcoming that fear, she now has a beautiful marriage and four awesome kidsBook a Restored speaking engagementBuy Blessed Is She’s beautiful productsShare your storyShownotes

When your parents’ marriage and family break apart, it’s traumatic for you as their son or daughter. That trauma is not only painful, but also has devastating effects on you that last for a long time. As a result, you need to heal. But how? Our guest today, a trauma therapist, shares the antidote or opposite of trauma. We discuss:The 4 principles you need to live out to prevent and heal from traumaOne thing you can today, right away, to heal and growWhy feeling worthless is a major problem that you need to address in order to feel whole againIf you want peace, freedom, and great relationships, this episode is for you. Buy Margaret’s book: FEARLESS: Abundant Life through Infinite Love (affiliate link)Buy Joey’s book: It’s Not Your Fault: A Practical Guide to Navigating the Pain & Problems from Your Parents’ Divorce (affiliate link)Shownotes

In this episode, you'll hear 7 short clips from the podcast in 2021. This episode, and the podcast as a whole, will help you heal and grow from the trauma of your parents’ divorce, separation, or broken marriage, so you can feel whole again and thrive. If you’re new to the podcast, this is the perfect way to sample our content and learn how it will help you. If you’re a veteran listener, this is the perfect episode to share with someone you know who needs to hear it.Thanks for listening! We do it for you.Book a Restored talkShownotes

When Alexandra was in 7th grade, her parents divorced. Almost immediately, she went to counseling, which led her to believe that the effects of her parents’ divorce were in her past. She thought she was healed.But in college, poor decisions and failed relationships showed her that perhaps it wasn’t resolved like she thought. She woke up on her birthday feeling sad and stuck, asking the question: Am I going to be in this same spot for the rest of my life? In this episode, she shares the rest of her story and more:How working on herself has now led her to a really beautiful, healthy relationshipHow a memento from her past made her realize how much her parents’ divorce was still affecting herThe answer to “Do you hate your parents?”Book a Restored talkShownotes

Since she was 2 or 3, Sydney’s parents have been divorced. It’s all she’s ever known. As a result, she spent most of her childhood living out of a suitcase between Mom and Dad’s house.While Sydney has navigated her parents’ divorce fairly well, there have certainly been challenges. In this interview, we discuss those challenges and more:How Sydney has kept a good relationship with her parents and stepparentsAs someone from an intact home, her husband Dan talks about how the divorce has affected her and their relationshipReal and raw talk about love and marriage, especially feeling at times like it is “too hard”Email Joey@RestoredMinistry.com to schedule a meetingDonate to Restored | Your special gift is doubled and your monthly gift is tripled during Dec 2021Shownotes

Are you from a broken family? If so, you know how challenging the holidays can be. Not only is it difficult to balance time between mom and dad, but we also have to deal with any family drama. Instead of enjoying the holidays, many of us just can’t wait till they’re over.But there is good news: it doesn’t always have to be that way. In this episode, you’ll hear 9 tactics that you can use to navigate the holidays and hopefully, enjoy them again. It won’t make them perfect, but it will make them better.Buy Joey’s book: It’s Not Your Fault: A Practical Guide to Navigating the Pain & Problems from Your Parents’ Divorce (affiliate link)

Forgiving someone that wounded you is difficult. Not only is forgiveness difficult, it is often over simplified and misunderstood. That’s why we interviewed an expert on forgiveness, who happens to be a child of divorce. In this practical episode, we address:What exactly is forgiveness?How to forgive through the four stages of forgivenessWhy forgiveness is good for you and unforgiveness is bad for youHow does compensation or reparation factor into forgiveness?Practical advice to forgive someone who feels impossible to forgiveBuy Fr. John’s books: Adore: A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation | Lift Up Your Heart: A 10-Day Personal Retreat with St. Francis de SalesBuy Joey’s book: It’s Not Your Fault: A Practical Guide to Navigating the Pain & Problems from Your Parents’ Divorce (affiliate link)Shownotes

Alcoholism is a major cause of dysfunction in so many families. That was certainly true for our guest’s family. In this episode, she shares how alcoholism played a pivotal role in the breakdown of her parents’ marriage and family. We also discuss:Why she kept a packed bag that was always ready to go under her bed at collegeWhat she’d say to her parents if they were listening to this episodeHow she truly desires a good relationship with her parents, especially her estranged fatherShare Your StoryBuy Joey’s book: It’s Not Your Fault: A Practical Guide to Navigating the Pain & Problems from Your Parents’ Divorce (affiliate link)Shownotes

Dr. Andrew Swafford came from a dysfunctional family, even though his parents never got divorced. As a result, he questioned: “Can I be a good husband and father? Or am I destined to repeat the cycle of dysfunction?”Thankfully, he overcame those doubts and built a beautiful marriage and family. In this conversation, he shares what helped him to do just that. Plus, we discuss:What is virtue and how do you build it?A three part framework to know if you’ve acquired a virtueThe ultimate measure of a virtuous personWhy virtue offers you happiness and freedomPractical tips you can use today to build virtueBuy Dr. Swafford’s book: Spiritual Survival in the Modern World: Insights from C. S. Lewis's Screwtape LettersBuy Joey’s book: It’s Not Your Fault: A Practical Guide to Navigating the Pain & Problems from Your Parents’ Divorce (affiliate link)Shownotes