Soon to be exes living under the same roof while a divorce is divorce is no picnic for the parties, much less any children involved. Uncomfortable at best, torture at worst, some common questions one may ask are “How on earth do we coexist under potentially hostile and awkward conditions?” “What if I do my part and he/she is still disrespectful/obstructive and in denial?”, “How do we not let this disrupt the kids?” While the imagery of a butterfly growing and developing whilst trapped in a chrysalis, comes to mind, I recognize that living under the same roof as your soon-to-be ex may not be quite so lovely. Here are eight survival tips to get you through this time until you are free to fly.

The emotional turmoil of divorce, characterized by depths of despair one day and euphoric highs the next, can aptly be compared to a rollercoaster. While some may enjoy living on the edge, I certainly did not appreciate the unpredictable twists and turns that came at breakneck speed during my own divorce. As I stood in line waiting with sweaty palms and a racing heart, I prepared myself for an unforgettable ride, but not in the way I would like. Here are the stages I encountered and lessons I learned along the way.

Ten helpful tips to keep your divorce peaceful even if you are dealing with a high-conflict or narcissistic spouse. You may not achieve the perfect “conscious uncoupling” but you may just save some sanity and real money in legal bills.