Between Apple and conscious uncoupling, I can’t decide which is more “creative.”

Hi there,

My clever coworker, Abigail Munafo, pointed out to me today that I have a category entitled “Celebrity Trash,” and I haven’t posted to it in a while. So, it was extremely timely to read that Gwyneth Paltrow is getting divorced from what’s his name. They chose to do it amicably, a good choice, and called it “conscious uncoupling,” a peculiar choice. Coming from a couple who named their child after a fruit, it’s somehow not all that surprising.

Having read a bunch of articles about it, so you don’t have to, I’ve determined that conscious uncoupling means being amicable and putting the kids first. While the pretentious term may raise eyebrows, I can’t even be sarcastic about that. If it’s possible, an amicable divorce is absolutely the best way to handle splitting up.

Gwyneth and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin plan to coparent in very close proximity to each other, buying houses in the same neighborhoods, planning joint destination vacations and even procuring two vacation homes close together. Wouldn’t we all like to be able to afford double everything! All kidding aside, what it really takes to have an amicable separation is the ability to communicate and manage a semblance of civility. It’s pretty rare, but I have seen couples that can vacation together, have holidays and celebrate birthdays together… At least while their kids were young.

If you can divorce amicably, it’s very much a good thing. Good luck and good uncoupling.

Best,
Nancy