'RHOP's Ashley Darby and Michael Navigate Parallel Parenting: A Daunting Journey'
RHOP's Ashley Darby opens up about the difficulties of parallel parenting with ex-husband Michael Darby The Real Housewives of Potomac star admits that navigating this challenging dynamic has tested their co-parenting skills
The Real Housewives of Potomac star Ashley Darby provided an update on her relationship with her estranged husband, Michael Darby, indicating that things have not been going well. According to Ashley, they are currently practicing parallel parenting, a term she came across on TikTok and found fitting for their situation.
According to Ashley, parallel parenting involves minimal personal interaction with the ex-spouse compared to traditional coparenting. "We only communicate for the sake of the children, which I believe is the best approach until we can improve our personal relationship," she stated.
Ashley officially announced her separation from Michael, aged 64, in April 2022 after being married for eight years. "We have chosen to separate. We understand that there will be numerous speculations regarding the reasons behind our decision," she shared with Bravo's The Daily Dish. "People may quickly assume that reality TV intrusion, age difference, cultural issues, or differences in parenting styles have caused our pure love for each other to diminish, but no single reason is the main cause of our mutual decision to part ways."
Ashley Darby Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images
The pair, who were previously co-parenting their sons Dean, 4, and Dylan, 2, are now facing difficulties in their relationship, according to Ashley. She expressed her confusion about when and how their dynamic turned negative, stating that something has clearly changed. As she watches this season back, she hopes to gain clarity on the exact moment that caused the shift.
Ashley admitted her disappointment with the current state of her relationship with Michael, even after their separation. "I was deeply in love with him," she shared with Us. "It's a difficult challenge to go from being in love with someone for 11 years to not being with them anymore, especially under these circumstances. But that's just life."
Ashley Boalch Darby is still in the process of officially divorcing Michael. She stated that she is currently "wading through the water" but is determined to reach that point, even though she cannot specify a specific timeline.
The reality star also plans to take her time when it comes to reentering the dating scene. "I've come to realize that I should perhaps proceed with caution, as I tend to dive headfirst when I develop feelings for someone," Ashley acknowledged. "I find myself offering to do their laundry, cook for them, or even buy things for them. But I need to refrain from doing that now."
Courtesy of Ashley Darby/Instagram
After dating for several months, Ashley and Summer House star Luke Gulbranson went their separate ways in January. However, Ashley holds no regrets about their split, stating that Luke is a wonderful person. She admits that at the time, she wasn't ready for a relationship, but believes that their breakup unfolded as it was meant to. Ashley also acknowledges that she gained valuable lessons from their time together and couldn't help but appreciate Luke's attractive appearance.
Season 8 of The Real Housewives of Potomac premieres on Bravo Sunday, November 5, at 8 p.m. ET.
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
