I'm no expert in psychology, but I've crafted my own formula, based on observation, to tell when a mom friend might be headed for divorce, just through their social media. Let's use a made-up Stacey to illustrate my 8-stage pattern:
Stage 1: Happily Ever After
At first you’ll probably think, "Wow! Stacey has it all. She has the perfect family, and she and her partner are just SO in love!"
Stage 2: Me and My Besties
Next, you start seeing Stacey out on the town all the time on social media. She is living the life. She has it all — the kids, the spouse, and an amazing social life. You think to yourself how lucky Stacey is to have it all.
Stage 3: Lookin' Good!
Then you notice Stacey is looking AMAZING. She might have gotten a new hairstyle, lost weight, or is dressing really well. At this stage, she changes her profile picture to one of just her. She is so confident!
We're not the only ones who have noticed these signs of marriage trouble!
Check out this TikTok from Juliet Couret:
@julietcouret I see it time & time again
♬ original sound - Executive Coach Julie Couret
Stage 4: Disappearance
Suddenly, you realize you haven't seen Stacey on social media for a while. What happened to her? You hope Stacey is okay.
Stage 5: Random Quotes
Next, you start seeing random quote posts from Stacey. The quotes don't make much sense, but make you wonder what’s going on with her. Man, you hope she is okay.
Stage 6: Revelation
This is the point when you learn Stacey has been going through a divorce. It could be a profile change, a picture of her with a new beau, a family picture without the ex, or word of mouth. How did this happen?
Stage 7: Bitter & Inspirational Quotes
Things start to get really tough, and you'll see Stacey post quotes ranging from bitter to inspirational. This is a dead giveaway — I'm telling you, it's the quotes!
Stage 8: Solid Ground
At some point, most people end up posting a lot with their new boyfriend or girlfriend. They start to seem more on solid ground, posting pictures of their kids and tagging their ex.
So, this is the pattern I've observed. What do you think?
