OK, yes, there are some deadbeat moms and dads who just drop out of their children’s lives. Fortunately for the children, these parents are in the minority. And to be fair to the absentee parent, one should note that some are not deadbeats at all. Some have been excluded from their children’s lives by […]

  Recently I had a long conversation* with Dr. Ned Holstein, Founder and Chair of the National Parents Organization (NPO). NPO seeks better lives for children through family law reform that establishes equal rights and responsibilities for fathers and mothers after divorce or separation. The organization is focused on promoting shared parenting and preserving a child’s strong

by Guest Author Sharon Zarozny   It’s holiday time, and if you’re in the midst of a major transition, it can be one of the most challenging (certainly not “the most wonderful”) times of the year. Twinkling lights, cheery carols, and holiday shopping can bring more sadness than joy … especially if your world is

by guest author Jacob Edward Unfortunately, we cannot tell when someone will begin to need long-term care or end-of-life hospice care. Many individuals begin long-term care after a sudden life change that leaves them unable to care for themselves at home, such as a stroke or a fall. Others simply decline with advancing age. In

Last weekend I went to a family law reform conference just to hear what parents from many parts of the USA would say. What they said was disturbing.   The conference was hosted by the Director of Divorce Corp, a documentary about the fifty billion dollars per year divorce industry in this country. Obviously the parents

    Little stories can be fun and educational. Working with a different mediator (not a member of our group), one couple had signed an agreement with a detailed schedule describing when their child would spend time with each parent. During the next year or two, each thought the other was violating the agreement over

by Guest Author Elinor Robin, Ph.D. with editing by Virginia L Colin, Ph.D.   41. Children of any age may be hesitant to spend time with a parent for a variety of reasons. Both parents should encourage the child to go with the other parent at the times scheduled for that parent. 42. If you

by Guest Author Joe Dillon If you’re contemplating a divorce and thinking about mediating, you may be thinking it all sounds too good to be true. After all, there has to be a reason why people hire lawyers and spend years of their lives battling in court and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in the

  In many cases, you can save thousands of dollars by having a mediator help you and your former partner resolve as much as possible in mediation. A mediator’s area of expertise is facilitating communication – helping both parties say clearly what matters to them and why, hear what matters to the other person and