Personal Update: Shifting Gears to Prioritize My Health
Over the past few months, some of you may have noticed that I’ve been quieter than usual. Less present on social media, slower to respond, and not as active in advocacy circles.
As many of you know, my work through One Mom’s Battle has always been deeply personal. I entered this space not as a professional, but as a mother fighting to protect her children in a system that often fails to prioritize their safety. Over time, what began as a blog turned into a movement. For the past thirteen years, I’ve poured every ounce of my heart and energy into helping others navigate the family court system and post-separation abuse.
Two and a half years ago, I announced that I would begin stepping back from one-on-one coaching and from being in the trenches of legislative and public advocacy. That decision came on the heels of a devastating diagnosis. MOGAD is a rare autoimmune disease in which my body attacks my spinal cord. At the time, I knew I needed to slow down, prioritize my health, and reimagine what my role in this movement could look like.
But life (and a brave teenage girl) took me on a different path.
Shortly after sharing that announcement, Maya Laing and her younger brother were legally and violently taken by transport agents and placed in Lynn Steinberg’s reunification camp. Like so many of you, I was shaken. I felt compelled to act, and I did. I threw myself into advocacy with everything I had. I helped organize national protests, raised awareness, and vowed to keep Maya and her brother at the forefront of the conversation.
Because I was so passionate about getting them home safely, and about advocating for all the children enduring similar traumas, I pressed pause on my own healing journey. I ignored my body’s warnings and pushed forward.
Looking back, I believe everything unfolded the way it was meant to. I was called to show up in that moment, and I did. But now, I find myself facing another wake-up call.
My most recent MRI showed new lesions on my spinal cord, which helped explain the symptoms I’ve been experiencing. I’ve been having issues with my left leg, which makes balance and walking difficult at times. My fine motor skills have become increasingly impaired, along with other symptoms I am still working through. After my daughter's spring break, I will be diving back into physical therapy and occupational therapy.
This progression has made it undeniably clear. I can no longer push forward in the way I have. I’ve come to a place of deep clarity. I must create space for my body to heal and for others to rise.
This does not mean I am walking away from the mission, but I am shifting how I show up.
I am stepping away from:
One-on-one support - the trauma intense nature of this work is too difficult on my body.
Legislative advocacy, beyond sharing calls-to-action and connecting others. I encourage you to follow our Advocacy Hub for updates and opportunities to get involved.
Spotlighting individual stories, which requires ethical journalism including deep dives on cases before featuring them. I no longer have the capacity to spotlight individual cases.
And I am stepping into:
Growing the High Conflict Divorce Coach Certification Program, empowering others to lead and passing torches.
Focusing on media and public education, lending my voice as an expert to elevate awareness and systemic change.
Launching something new: The Rulebook Academy
Introducing The Rulebook Academy
This is the part I’m most excited to share.
The Rulebook Academy is a new platform I’ve been building behind the scenes. It will serve as a comprehensive hub of online courses, education and strategic tools for anyone navigating the family court system, whether you are just beginning or have been in the trenches for years. This is one of the places I will be directing my energy, creativity, and heart moving forward.
We are in the process of moving all existing One Mom’s Battle courses into The Rulebook Academy, where they are being updated to reflect the most current tools, strategies, and insights. This shift allows each platform to serve its own unique purpose—One Mom’s Battle as an advocacy and awareness hub, and The Rulebook Academy as a dedicated space for education and strategic preparation. In addition to refreshing our existing content, we have a wide range of new courses in development that will be rolled out over the coming months.
Here's what I know:
The family court system is becoming worse every year. The level of collusion and corruption has reached a point that is difficult to comprehend. It is my personal goal to equip others with the knowledge, strategy, and information I wish I had at the beginning of my own battle.
The Rulebook Academy is designed to help people avoid costly mistakes, navigate the system with clarity, and protect their children with purpose. This is the resource I needed back then, and the one I am committed to building now.
One Mom’s Battle will continue as an advocacy and awareness platform. It will share legislative updates, public education, and aligned resources. But my deeper strategic work, including courses and training, will now live within The Rulebook Academy.
This next chapter is about sustainability. It is about listening to my body. By stepping back, I am making space for others to step forward - for the past few years, we have been building an army and I look forward to continuing that journey because we truly need all hands on deck.
To this community: thank you. You’ve stood with me for over a decade. I hope you will continue to walk beside me as this work evolves. For those in the trenches: I may not be able to stand beside you in the courtroom, but I will continue doing everything I can to give you the tools, education, and support you deserve.
With deep gratitude,
Tina
