After separation, money can feel overwhelming very quickly.

Not because you suddenly have more to manage
but because every decision feels loaded with emotion, responsibility, and fear of getting it wrong.

So many people tell me they feel stuck because they believe they need to make one big, perfect financial decision to feel confident again.

But here is the truth that changes everything:

Confidence is not built through big, scary moves.
It is built through small, steady ones.

There is a moment after separation where money stops being practical
and starts being personal.

It is no longer just about bank accounts or numbers on a page.
It becomes a story you tell yourself about who you are now.

“I am bad with money.”
“I should have seen this coming.”
“I cannot do this alone.”

I hear these sentences every single week.
And I want you to know something straight away.

Back-to-school season is often filled with mixed emotions.

There is relief as routines return.
There is pressure to get everything organised.
And for many parents after separation, there is a quiet ache underneath it all.

Because this year, school does not just mean new books and packed lunches.
It means everything has changed.

New homes.
New routines.
Different mornings.
Time apart.

And while children are often more adaptable than we give them credit for, that does not mean they are unaffected.

After divorce, it is not just your life that feels different.
Often, it is your relationship with yourself.

You might notice more hesitation. More second-guessing. A quiet loss of confidence in decisions that once felt straightforward.

And when that happens, the pressure to “rebuild your life” can feel overwhelming.

Big goals. Big changes. Big plans.

But here is the truth I want you to hear today:
Rebuilding trust in yourself does not happen through big transformations.
It happens through small, steady steps.

One small thing at a time.

January has a reputation for fresh starts. New energy. Clean slates. Hopeful intentions.

But if you have been through separation or divorce, January can feel surprisingly heavy.

For many people, it is not the beginning that hurts. It is the after.

The decorations are packed away. The children return to routines. The noise and distraction of the holidays fade. And suddenly, there is space. Too much space.

That is often when emotions catch up.

The start of a new year often arrives with a quiet question in the background:
What am I supposed to change?

For many of us, especially after a season of upheaval or emotional growth, the idea of fixing ourselves can feel exhausting before January has even begun.

So instead of setting big goals or demanding a fresh version of myself, I am doing something simpler this year.
I am choosing what I will carry forward, and what I am ready to gently leave behind.

And I want to invite you to do the same.

There’s something magical about this time of year.
Not because everything suddenly becomes easy or organised… but because reflection has a way of shining light on the strength we didn’t realise we were building all along.

When I look back at 2025, I can see now that this was a year of stretching, softening, expanding, and rising — often at the same time.
It was not a perfect year, but it was a transformative one.
Through all of its twists and turns, one theme kept revealing itself:

There are some moments in life that feel heavier than others — and Christmas without your children is one of them.

It is one of those experiences you cannot fully prepare for, even when it is written into Orders, agreements, or schedules.
When the day actually arrives… the quiet feels different.
The house feels different.
You feel different.

And if that is where you find yourself this year, I want you to know something right from the start…

Every year, around this time, something shifts in the air.
The world speeds up — shopping, planning, organising, coordinating, juggling…

But quietly, gently, your body whispers something different:
Slow down.
Make space.
Come back to yourself.

And yet, this is the season when slowing down feels the hardest — especially after a year that has stretched you, challenged you, or changed you in ways you’re still processing.

I’ve been keeping a little secret for a while now… and I can finally share it with you.

Over the past year, between client sessions, court appearances, and late-night cups of tea, I’ve been writing a book — one that’s incredibly close to my heart.