Regardless of whether you're the one driving the decision or are on the receiving end of such shocking news, for stay at home moms divorce and the end of a marriage can be utterly terrifying.
The worries pour in and flood your mind filling you with anxiety. You lose sleep thinking about:
- Will I be able to afford to stay in the house?
- How will I pay off those credit cards?
- How will I be able to put my kids through college?
- How will I save for my retirement?
- Will I receive enough child support and alimony (spousal support / maintenance)?
- Will I have to get a job and join the work force? If so, how will I do it?
- How will I support myself and my children after the divorce is finalized?
And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
In a stay at home mom divorce, all of this boils down to fear. And money.
And it makes perfect sense given you don't currently have full-time employment and don't earn an income and you haven't had a career or been in the workforce since the kids were born.
And you may not even have visibility into the household finances.