Divorce can be such a challenge.

While some couples are able to pick up the pieces of a broken relationship and move on, others are not so fortunate.

There are those whose divorce has far-reaching catastrophic effects on the world around them.

Like my in-laws.

Before moving to Massachusetts, Dadisodes and I lived in Southern California. Our house was approximately a 3-hour drive from nearly everyone in his family: six siblings, and two very divorced parents.

While planning our wedding, my husband had to sit down with each of his parents and explain our overwhelming concerns that they would start a fight as we exchanged vows.

After our daughter was born, the struggles only grew worse, as only one paternal grandparent came to visit her.  In fact, only one paternal grandparent has ever come to visit her.

So while Dadisodes and I juggled our full-time jobs, renovated our home, and adjusted to parenthood, we made the 6-hour round trip drive with our newborn so that she could somehow get to know her grandparent and extended family.  A frequent 1-day weekend trip that often left us pulled over on the I-5 freeway to breastfeed, and my husband and I taking turns at the wheel because we were so sleep deprived.

But we felt they could care less, especially when we received off the cuff comments like, “You’re young. You can do it.”

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