After the latest round of conflict between Meghan King and Jim Edmonds, it is clear that the fallout of divorce is not going away.
As Vicki Gunvalson infamously predicted, the two of them remained married for about five years. Now, it looks like their struggle may go on for even longer.
It’s not that they have too many hurt feelings or that co-parenting is difficult.
Meghan is accusing Jim of “coercive control” following very public claims about his custody situation.
On Wednesday, February 15, Meghan King discussed something painful on her Instagram Story.
Wiping away tears, she spoke about how “nobody really talks about coercive control and the after-effects of divorce.” That was just the beginning.
“People say, ‘It will get better with time. It will get better with time,'” Meghan said. “It’s been three years.”
Coercive control in online resources refers to tactics—ranging from violence to humiliation—with the intention of harming, punishing, or intimidating the target.
The implication is that her ex-husband is allegedly using the rest of their relationship to punish her.
“‘When? What time do I have to wait?’ ‘ Meghan asked. “The lawyers told me. That’s what my parents and coordinators all told me. It’s worse.”
Meghan did not delve into the details of her allegations. It is possible that she is referring to some kind of controversy that has not yet become public. If so, his lawyer would certainly advise him to discuss it in public rather than in court.
Plus, it’s very possible that Meghan is at least partially referencing things we’ve already heard.
Jim Edmonds has mistreated her in almost every imaginable way since the two divorced. As he said, it’s been years.
Most recently, Jim accused Meghan of going on a “narcissism retreat” — both on her own and more explicitly through a representative.
Reportedly, he changed his Superbowl plans to spend time with the kids, but was unable to. The children spent that time with their grandmother. According to him, anyway.
Obviously, we can’t actually verify any part of that. But that’s what Jim claimed.
He describes the “narcissism retreat” that just… Meghan was traveling to in Sedona, Arizona.
Perhaps her statement that she had “finally found the love of my life: the love of my own self” was what inspired that comment.
“I opened a new chapter this past weekend, where I cemented my footprint in the love department as well as in the field of entrepreneurship,” Meghan said after the trip.
“I have fallen in love….after the trauma (which is still ongoing), after the divorce,” Meghan said.
“After everything I still stand … in Sedona at the center of a vortex,” she said.
“No one tells me I can’t do something. I have the balls, I have the grit, and I will keep at it,” Meghan vowed.
“Sending a million prayers of gratitude because words are failing me,” she then announced.
It is not uncommon for ex-lovers to hate each other. Because our society discourages divorce and makes it difficult financially and socially, people often end a marriage as a last resort.
This means that people rarely divorce simply because they no longer want to be married. They often get divorced because they can’t stand the idea of staying married. And if they haven’t hated each other by that point, well, the grueling divorce process can bring out the worst in people.
Meghan and Jim are far from the first pair of bitter exes to grapple with co-parenting issues.
But, even if they don’t let their accusatory statements take over the way they talk around their kids, it can all affect their kids.
We hope that they both are still thinking of their kids as their first priority.