Featured in Neighbours of Lynn Valley: A Family United Post-Divorce
My family was featured in the April edition of Neighbours of Lynn Valley, a local magazine that highlights members of our wonderful community. The article, The Gladden Barre Family: Resilience and New Beginnings by Jessica Walden, shared my journey from social work to entrepreneurship, from divorce to life coaching, and highlighted how my family has grown and thrived here in Lynn Valley.
While being featured in a magazine is exciting in itself, two aspects of this experience felt particularly special to me.
A Family United Post-Divorce
One of the most meaningful parts of this feature was that my kids all agreed to be in it with me. Any parent of teenagers knows that this is no small thing—especially when the magazine is delivered right to the doorstep of all their friends! I gave them the choice, knowing that being in a public feature could feel embarrassing at their age. Unprompted by me, my daughter made the case to her brothers that it was important to support me and my new business, and that meant the world to me. As a divorced mom, moments like these—where we come together as a strong, close-knit family unit—are incredibly special. It’s a reminder that post-divorce family life can be filled with love, support, unity in ways that we wouldn’t expect and in ways that are uniquely special because we’ve been through divorce.
Seeing My Journey Through a New Lens
Another unexpected gift of this experience was seeing my own life reflected back to me through someone else’s words. So often, we are caught up in our daily struggles and self-doubts that we don’t pause to appreciate how much we’ve accomplished. The week the article came out, I had been feeling particularly discouraged. I felt like everything was taking too long and that I wasn’t far enough along in life. I haven’t reached my end-goals in finances and my love life feels like two steps forward, one step back most days. But reading about my journey—my career transitions, my personal growth, the foundations I HAVE built and my family’s resilience—reminded me of just how far I’ve come.
Sometimes, we’re so focused on the next challenge that we don’t take a moment to appreciate our own resilience and growth. Seeing my story reflected back at me was a powerful reminder that I am living in alignment with my values and building something truly meaningful.
The article itself included a beautiful quote:
“Her story serves as an inspiration for anyone facing life’s transitions – showing that with reflection, support, and determination, it is possible to create a life that is truly aligned with who you are and what you love.”
These words capture exactly what I strive to help other women discover through my coaching. Life after divorce isn’t just about surviving—it’s about thriving, rebuilding, and stepping into a future that is authentic and fulfilling.
I’m so grateful to Neighbours of Lynn Valley for sharing our story and to my community for being such an integral part of this journey. If you’ve been struggling to see your own progress, I encourage you to take a step back and reflect. Sometimes, an outside perspective is just what we need to recognize our own strength and resilience.
If you’re navigating divorce and wondering how to step into your next chapter with confidence, I invite you to book a discovery call with me. My Empowered Transitions coaching package is designed to help you move forward with clarity, resilience, and a renewed sense of possibility. You don’t have to do this alone—I’d love to support you on your journey.
Let’s connect and explore how I can help! Book A Discovery Call
Photo by Persia Anjam-Campo Simayatography for Neighbours of Lynn Valley magazine
