Parental Alienation and Divorce
Parental alienation occurs in divorce when a child develops an unreasonably strong dislike of one parent that makes an ongoing relationship or visitation with the rejected parent difficult if not impossible. Here’s how parental alienation impacts your children for years to come. By Judge Michele Lowrance As a domestic relations judge since 1995, I have watched the wreckage of the corrosive legacy of parental alienation and visitation interference play out over decades. We have no statistics for measuring this group because the victims are too vast. But the concentric circles include th...
The Challenges of Re-Marrying and Becoming a Stepparent
With two of three remarriages ending in divorce, it’s clearly challenging to successfully create a happy and lasting stepfamily. Preparation and good communication go a long way to helping you overcome the challenges of re-marriage, blending families and becoming a stepparent. By Jeffrey Cottrill Perhaps you're getting married to someone with children from a previous relationship, or else you have children and are getting remarried. Are you (or your new partner) ready for an instant stepfamily? To make it work, you need to let go of any preconceived notions you may have about stepfamil...
Life after Divorce: How to Tell When You’re Stuck
Life after divorce is challenging, especially for a single parent. Here are signs that you might be "stuck." By Carolyn Ellis Divorce is a game-changer and can turn your whole world upside down quickly. It’s easy to lose sight of the forest for the trees. Without creating a big picture for our lives (the forest), it’s easy to get stuck in the daily issues of being a single parent (the trees). All parents have a lot on their plates, but single parents have additional responsibilities. For you, life can be a blur of managing your children, rebuilding your life, dealing with your ex,...
The 5 Phases of Separating Emotionally from Your Ex-Spouse
Recovering from getting divorced is very similar to the grieving process we experience when a loved one dies. You may re-cycle through these phases throughout the process of coping with divorce and separating emotionally from your ex-spouse. By Carolyn Ellis Going through separation and divorce can feel like a death – and in many ways it is the death of a lot of dreams, hopes and aspirations you had. Recovering from and coping with divorce is very similar to the grieving process we experience when a loved one dies. We lose an important part of our life. The divorce process has five ...
What to Do When You and Your Ex Have Different Parenting Styles
Co-parenting your children after divorce often shows how different your parenting style is from your ex. Here’s how to manage the potential conflicts and confusion different parenting styles can cause. By Carolyn Ellis Different homes may mean different parenting styles. Different rules about bedtimes, homework and household chores between mom’s house and dad’s house can make clashes and conflicts inevitable when co-parenting with your ex. When you were married or living together, parents typically assume a “united front” in parenting to provide consistency and clarity for t...
Why Having a Vision for Your Life After Divorce is So Important
You will be co-parenting with your ex for as long as you have children. Having a vision for life after divorce is a powerful tool to help you live your life on your own terms. Here’s why! By Carolyn Ellis You will be co-parents with your ex for as long as you have children. Don’t let yourself be constrained by the current state of your relationship or worries about how you’re going to achieve your vision for your life after divorce. Vision is a powerful tool for everyone, from single moms and divorced dads to CEOs and everyone in between. Businesses, governments, and other large...
The Truth Parents Need to Know About Divorce and Children
Divorcing parents always pledge to keep the welfare of their children in mind, but this lawyer/mediator/coach continually sees parents break that promise in the divorce process. Here’s the real truth about divorce and children and how a parent’s behavior and choices can impact their children. By M. Marcy Jones As a lawyer, mediator and coach, I cannot emphasize strongly enough how important it is for the well-being of your children that you and your spouse find ways to deal with your conflict without becoming enmeshed in a legal battle during the divorce process. The truth about divo...
Post-Divorce Dating Safety Rules
Dating after divorce can feel like a big maze, with all kinds of ways to meet the next Mr. or Ms. Right. However, it’s important to keep dating safety rules in mind as you get out there and meet new people. By Sabrina Touchino Dating after divorce in the internet age can be an exciting way to meet someone new, but it’s important to be safe. Caution is the keyword here. It doesn't matter how or where you've met someone -- whether it was through the personals, online, at a bar, or even though friends -- don't ignore dating safety by rushing into too much intimacy too fast. Don't be too...
Where To Find Your New Love After Divorce
There's no "surefire" way to meet Mr. or Ms. Right, but opening yourself up to different scenes and a variety of people will certainly increase your chances of success. Here are some tips on broadening your soulmate search and finding love after divorce. By Jeffrey Cottrill Dating can seem like a frightening prospect after you've been divorced. Chances are that you have the disadvantage of not having been in the dating scene for many years -- and the rules and customs are constantly changing. Our fast-paced, busy work world today leaves us with little time to search seriously when dating...
How to Master the Art of Flirting
Dating after divorce can feel awkward, especially if you haven’t practiced your flirtation and conversational skills with potential romantic partners in a while. Here are the essentials to master the art of flirting. By Diana Shepherd Now that you're emotionally ready to meet your soulmate, you have to find him/her. Here's a hint: he/she probably isn't sitting on your sofa waiting to watch Grey’s Anatomy with you. So you're going to have to leave your comfort zone and put yourself out there if you want to get back into the world of dating. This doesn't mean as a single mom or a di...
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