I’m a big fan of NPR especially on the weekend when I can enjoy their programming over a more leisurely breakfast. This Sunday I caught host Liane Hansen interviewing singer Holly Williams, grandaughter of the legendary Hank Williams. During the interview, Holly says a song she wrote about her mother, “Mama” lead to her record deal. The background to the song is the positive influence Holly’s mother always been even when she was going through divorce. Holly says she never heard her mother speak negatively about her father, even though he was away doing concert tours 300 nights a year and she never heard her mother moan about how he was away doing his thing while she was stuck at home raising the kids.
I’m sure every therapist will give this advice to divorcing parents but in the heat of trying to resolve a parenting agreement and a financial agreement, it’s really hard advice to follow. It can be even harder during the co-parenting years that follow. Holly’s interview, Music in Her Blood, and her Mama song are worth listening to if you ever need a reminder of how you can help minimize the impact of divorce on your children. She talks more about her new album, Here With Me at her website. I’ve heard enough to make me want to hear more. Great voice.
In the next few weeks I’ll be featuring some stories from women who regard their positive co-parenting arrangement as among their most significant achievements since getting divorced. If you have a success story to share then feel free to leave comment.