Coping with Divorce and Separation at Christmas with Mila Smith

Hello and welcome to another episode of the Perception Podcast with me your host Caroline Partridge. I'm delighted to be joined once again by Relationship and Dating Coach Mila Smith. In this episode we tackle the sensitive subject of how to deal with divorce and separation at Christmas. Mila gives some excellent actionable tips on how to survive as a singleton when everything everywhere is geared towards family and togetherness, and how to deal with uncomfortable questions from your nearest and dearest. So please join me as we look a life through a different lens. KEY TAKEAWAYS Through her personal and professional experience, Mila discovered that handwriting letters rather than typing them prevents impulsive sending and creates a tangible record of emotional healing that clients can reflect on over time.  As someone who struggled to exercise alone, Mila found signing up for group classes was transformative - the financial commitment and social aspect helped her maintain consistency when she felt like giving up.  Drawing from her own divorce experience, Mila learned to reframe personal blame by focusing on relationship circumstances, a technique she now uses to help clients process their separations more effectively.  After witnessing many clients struggle with their first post-separation Christmas, Mila advocates for sometimes taking radical approaches like skipping family gatherings which is a strategy she's seen preserve mental health during vulnerable periods.  Having worked with families during divorce, Mila observed that children are remarkably resilient and adapt better to new family structures than most parents expect, especially in today's world where blended families are increasingly common.  Through her own journey of rebuilding after divorce, Mila discovered the power of local community groups and clubs in forming new friendship circles, regardless of age or circumstances.  Despite being naturally extroverted, Mila found that teaching her clients to embrace occasional solitude and self reflection, rather than constant distraction, dramatically improved their healing process. BEST MOMENTS "The very first move is the most difficult to make. But when you do, I think you will notice the very quick change to your mood." "The moment I admit a mistake or admit a shortcoming is the moment I feel better... the minute you admit that mistake and say it out loud is the moment you start forgiving yourself."  "Children usually will normalise it [seperation], even if you don't... they heal better than we adults do." "Whatever you're feeling, that too shall pass."    ABOUT THE GUEST After 25 years in the corporate world, Mila Smith decided to dedicate her time to the field about which she’s absolutely passionate: helping women and men, as a certified Relationship & Dating Coach, find the love they deserve and build a happy relationship. Mila was once a solo mum with a rocky relationship history - until she realised it wasn’t about luck but about choices and mindset. That’s when she took control and transformed her love life. Her step-by-step programmes unlock the secrets to success through proven science-based methods.   Socials & Contact Website: https://www.single-to-couple.com/ Blog: https://www.single-to-couple.com/relationshipdatingcoachblog https://www.linkedin.com/in/mila-s-851bb870/ https://www.facebook.com/single2couple https://www.instagram.com/single.2.couple/     CONTACT METHOD FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/caropartridge LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-partridge-03131520 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/partridge_caroline