by guest author Dave Flook Sometimes the consequences of our actions are not apparent until it’s too late. Several months ago I was approached by a girl in her mid-teens. She mentioned that she had seen an article for Not All Dads Are Deadbeats in the local newspaper and that she recognized me from […]

    Telling your child awful things about your ex usually damages your child and frequently backfires. As a family mediator, I hear one parent say horrible things about the other parent all the time. Saying these things to me in a confidential setting is fine. Saying the same things to your child or even

  1. I cannot fix everything for everybody. People have the personalities, anxieties, hostilities, and blind spots that they have, and I cannot always get them to think and speak from the best parts of themselves and cooperate to do what will be good for their kids. 2. I am not allowed to give legal

    For many, Thanksgiving is a happy family gathering time. For others, it is a day when you have to see your dysfunctional relatives. For others, including divorced parents whose children will be with their other parent this year, it may be sad and lonely. If that group includes you, I hope you make

  Divorce often involves riding an emotional roller coaster: fear, anger, relief, denial, grief, exhilaration, guilt, blame, despair, anxiety, and, one hopes, belief in your ability to heal and build a good life for yourself and your children. When I divorced, there was no magic pill for dealing with the crazy emotions, the financial issues,