Welcome to the Messy Middle

Co-parenting through conflict, breaking generational cycles, and raising kids with love, stability, and strength. This is where I write through it all.

Why this, why now

For years, I’ve been living what most people only hear about in passing. Ongoing court battles. High-conflict co-parenting. The emotional work of healing childhood trauma while trying to raise grounded, emotionally strong children.

I started writing on Medium recently to process everything. It helped. But I realized I wanted more than a platform. I wanted a space to be honest, to connect with others who understand what it’s like when peace is something you have to fight for. Substack offers the space for that.

This newsletter is for anyone walking through something hard, especially those who feel like it never ends. Parents caught in the legal system. Adults untangling the past while raising kids with intention. Anyone trying to hold onto love, truth, and sanity in the face of it all.

If you’ve ever thought, “No one really gets this,” you’re not alone. I’m writing for people like us.

The community I hope to build here

This won’t be a space filled with sugar-coated advice or shallow motivation. I want to tell the truth without getting stuck in the pain. I want to hold space for both the hard and the beautiful.

This is for people who are still in it. People figuring it out as they go. People who’ve been dismissed, misunderstood, or silenced. It’s also for those who believe things can get better, even if it’s slow and messy.

Here, you’ll find honesty, clarity, and reflection. You’ll also find hope. Not the loud kind, but the steady kind that keeps showing up.

What you can expect

This newsletter will include:

• Personal essays on family, court, parenting, and growth

• Insights from over seven years of navigating a high-conflict custody case—what I’ve learned, what’s still evolving

• Real-life examples of what helped, what failed, and how we kept going

• Occasional resource lists, Q&A-style posts, and deeper dives into legal or emotional topics tied to advocacy and healing

Posting schedule:

• Free posts: At least twice a month—raw, reflective, and real-time

• Paid posts (now live):

  • Behind-the-scenes updates on advocacy, system reform, and writing process

  • (Coming Soon) In-depth reflections and strategies for surviving family court while staying grounded

  • (Coming Soon) Practical tools and lived-experience insights for those navigating similar paths

• Bonus content for paid subscribers (launching at 30 subscribers):

  • Reader Q&As and “how we handled it” case breakdowns

  • Community discussion threads and subscriber-only input opportunities

A note for new readers

I write under a pen name for privacy, but the stories and experiences are real. I’ve lived this life for nearly a decade. I have three daughters, a husband who understands this world better than most, and a deep drive to make things better for the next generation.

This space is about growth, truth, and resilience. If that speaks to you, you’re in the right place.

Thanks for being here.

– Alice

P.S. Some of these stories and reflections also appear on Medium, where I first began writing about my experiences. This Substack offers additional content, updates, and community conversations.