The Apps That Can Make Your Breakup Less Terrible
A new wave of digital tools aims to ease the emotional and logistical challenges of dealing with an ex
Hannah Van Sickle thought poor communication was a problem in her relationship, but she didn’t realize how bad it could get until she and her husband split up. Suddenly, strained face-to-face conversations were replaced by unanswered texts and emails, simmering tension giving way to radio silence.
This might have been preferable if Van Sickle and her ex didn’t have two daughters together. Adjusting to parenting post-marriage meant dealing with a series of mishaps and misunderstandings about where her children needed to be, and when, and with whom. Eventually, at the suggestion of Van Sickle’s attorney, she and her ex-husband tried a new communication tactic: an app.
Once upon a time, a phone’s main role in a breakup was as a conduit for ill-advised late-night voicemails. Now phones can help navigate the emotional minefield of being someone’s ex.
For nine months, Van Sickle and her husband have been conversing, arranging, and planning via Our Family Wizard, an app designed to help co-parenting exes avoid crossed wires and scheduling blunders. The newly single can opt to purchase the $99 subscription on their own, or…
