Going through a divorce or major life change? This post is for you.
Anna Anisimova Schaefer is a dynamic entrepreneur, philanthropist and accomplished actress known for her diverse work in film. She is the founder and head of Ana Vera Films, a production company focused on compelling, character-driven storytelling.
In addition to her work in entertainment, Anna is the co-founder of BEEOAn organic skin care line rooted in clean, intentional living. (Love Lauryn lip tint And facial oil.)
Deeply committed to giving back, she serves on the Make-A-Wish Gala Committee, is a Baby2Baby Angel, and sits on the board of The La Maida Project, which supports initiatives focused on children’s well-being and mental health.
Today Anna is here to tell us about her experience with divorce and how it reshaped her identity and life.
With that, let’s welcome Anna to the blog.
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Three years ago, my life changed in a way that I could never have been fully prepared for, I went through a very messy divorce.
For over a decade, my identity was deeply rooted in being a wife and a mother. And while those roles are still the most meaningful part of my life, I suddenly found myself asking a question I hadn’t asked in a very long time: Who am I outside of that?
What happened next has been one of the most challenging, emotional, and unexpectedly transformative chapters of my life, navigating motherhood, shared custody, and reinventing myself not only as a mom, but as a woman, a creative, and a person.
Divorce doesn’t just change the status of your relationship, it reshapes the entire rhythm of your life.
One of the biggest adjustments for me was custody. Going from having my three kids with me all the time to a 50/50 schedule felt like my heart was torn in two. The days without him were too heavy, too quiet, too quiet. I didn’t know what to do with that place.
But over time, something changed.
I began to realize that those quiet moments weren’t just emptiness, they were opportunities. An opportunity to reconnect with parts of yourself that had been stuck for years.
I went back to acting. I started writing again. I began creating, dreaming, and stepping into rooms that reminded me of who I was before life became so full of responsibility.
And yet, the balance is still… complicated.
Because even when I am on the set or in a meeting, a part of me is always thinking about my children. Am I present enough? Am I doing this right? Am I giving them everything they need? Are we co-parenting well?
It’s a constant dance between ambition and guilt, freedom and responsibility.
But what I have understood is this:
Being Perfect as a Woman Makes Me a Better Mom, Not Worse.
My kids don’t need the perfect version of me. They want a perfect one.
The interesting thing was that as my life was changing, so was BYEO.
We originally launched BĀEO in 2018 as a kid-focused organic skincare line. At that time, it was completely rooted in motherhood, creating something safe, gentle, and nurturing for our families.
But after my divorce, something changed for me personally.
As I begin a new chapter, I started thinking more about identity, self-care and what it means to create something not only for my children, but for myself. Around the same time, my co-founder Sarah and I found ourselves naturally growing the brand. We set out to reimagine BĀEO to be more inclusive, creating multi-use essentials designed beyond kids for women, families, and anyone who wants simple, thoughtfully-crafted skin care.
Although I didn’t fully realize it at the time, looking back, BĀEO’s development feels deeply connected to my own development. It became less about taking care of everyone else first, and more about stepping into your own identity, while still sticking to the foundation of nurturing that started it all.
In many ways, BĀEO grew up with me and with us.
This journey was full of ups and downs.
Watching our kids navigate has been one of the hardest parts. Young children often want to stay at mom’s house more, and it breaks my heart that I can’t fully explain. I have cried myself to sleep many nights.
But at the end of the day, I remind myself: They deserve to spend time with both parents. And more importantly, they deserve two HappyPerfect parent.
We all have good weeks and tough weeks. I am learning to accept that this is also part of life.
5 Lessons That Helped Me Through This Chapter
1. You are allowed to grieve, even if you chose divorce.
There is a misconception that if you leave, you will not feel the loss. This is not true. You are mourning a life, a vision, a version of yourself. Allow yourself to feel it completely.
2. Your identity is allowed to evolve.
You are not just a role. Not just a mother. Not just anyone’s partner. You are constantly evolving and that is a beautiful thing.
3. Peace is inconvenient… until it becomes necessary.
The time without my children seemed unbearable. Now, I consider it sacred. This is where I rebuild, reflect and reconnect with myself. That doesn’t mean it’s easy because truthfully, it still feels unnatural, but it’s part of both their and my journey.
4. Guilt will try to run the show. Don’t let this happen.
The mother’s guilt is strong. But choosing your development, your career, your happiness, it doesn’t take away from your children. This expands what they get to see.
5. You can hold two truths at once.
You may miss your children deeply And Enjoy your freedom.
you can feel broken And You are making something new.
Life after divorce isn’t black-and-white, it’s layered, messy, and incredibly human.
I’m still on this journey, still learning, still growing, still figuring out what balance really looks like. But I feel confident that I am exactly where I need to be.
Right now, I’m focused on growing BYEO, acting, developing projects, and writing stories that reflect this beautifully complex chapter of life.
I have two films coming this year, how hard can it bestarring Jack Casey, Matt Barr, and Kate Flannery, and floristStarring Dennis Quaid and Jean Reno. I’m also directing my first short film and developing a story about my grandmother based on a book we wrote together, eternal winterComing later this year.
And at the center of it all are my children.
They’re adjusting just like me. Some weeks are beautiful, some are hard. But I think that’s the truth of life, we move forward through it all.
If you too are in a similar situation, know that you are not alone in this. not even a little bit.
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Life comes with big milestones and changes, sometimes good and sometimes bad. What are the things that helped you with life changes? Let us know everything below.
must follow Anna And BEEO on IG to keep up with life post-divorce and the new drops of our new favorite non-toxic beauty line.
X, The Skinny Confidential Team
