Attorney Mike Mastracci shares Dr. Paul Wanio’s tips for understanding guilt in divorce: Nobody’s perfect and that’s OK. Everyone makes mistakes, even when they’re doing their best. Divorce is like death in that you and your children need to grieve…
Before the relocation: living together after filing for divorce
Dr. Deborah Hecker.com/ published tips for living together separately after the divorce; many suggestions would work well for that time period when a divorce is filed or imminent but neither spouse has relocated: Be civil and respectful at all times.…
Not quite a top ten list: 6 principles for raising healthy children of divorce
Attorney Mike Mastracci shared 6 principles for putting your children first: Avoid playing the blame game. Don’t blame your ex for the divorce, for lack of money, or for the loss of your home or possessions. Your problems with your…
Today is your lucky day & you can’t control it!
CNN shows us the difference between controlling the outcome and controlling how we face the outcome. Peter Bregman writes (excerpt): So here’s the good news: You can change your results by changing your mind-set. When Dweck trained children to view…
Raising healthy children of divorce: a top 10 list
Dr. Deborah Hecker provides these suggestions for understanding and meeting the needs of their children: The “best interests of the children” does not mean the immediate gratification of the client and his/her need for me-me-me. Over and over again, the…
Losing an honorable man: Judge Michael Smolenski
The Grand Rapids Press reports on the passing of Judge Michael Smolenski, 64, who died from a rare neurological disease. Nardy Baeza Bickel writes (excerpt): Rretired Michigan Appeals Court Judge Michael Smolenski passed away Saturday night after battling a rare…
Keeping the kids out of it: Jon & Kate plus anger, infidelity, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera
The Detroit Free Press uses the Jon and Kate Gosselin saga at TLC’s “Jon & Kate Plus 8” as a springboard for a discussion about mistrust, honesty and forgiveness. And what about the children? Erin Chan Ding writes (excerpt): BENSKEY:…
If you try collaborative divorce first, you might just come out with some communication skills
The Orlando Sentinel reports on how collaborative divorce promotes a kinder, gentler process. Mark Schlueb writes (excerpt): “You’re focusing on the children from the start,” she said. “And people who have been through it say they came out with communication…
Completely different: functioning as co-parents after the collaborative divorce
The Fort Worth Business Press how to work through complicated divorce issues with collaborative divorce attorneys. Leslie Wimmer writes (excerpt): In traditional cases “you have mom and dad either going to court or preparing to go to court and more…
Save the environment, one divorce at a time
CNN connects deforestation with weddings and divorces. Arwa Damon writes (excerpt): Newly married couples must plant 10 trees under the program. If they divorce, they must plant 50 others. **** Environmental officials estimate around 50 million trees are needed in…
How to divorce without tearing your family apart
guelphmercury.com shows that fighting in divorce court rarely produces a real winner. Joanne Shuttleworth writes (excerpt): “It’s not for everyone, but for most people, it allows more dignity and control over the matter,” Rinnie said. “With this process, we can…
A civilized divorce: divorce mediation and working together
myOptumHealth.com and KOTV show how divorcing couples use mediation to process a civilized divorce. Lila Havens writes (excerpt): In mediation, the couple works to reach an agreement both people think is fair. The mediator acts as a go-between to help…
Make love, not war: how happiness flows from connections and relationships
OPRAH.com shows how connecting with another person promotes happiness. Jessica Winter writes (excerpt): In his view, human happiness derives neither from external validation nor solely from within, but from “between”: through the relationships created by love, work, and “something larger…
Collaborative divorce leads to quantifiable improvements in relationships
DailyCamera.com shows how Working together to separate and divorce leads to better outcomes. Aimee Heckel writes (excerpt): But the collaborative process seems to be more effective than a judge throwing down the gavel. A 2005 Canadian study showed more clients…
Unshakable, not unpleasant: Effective trial advocacy during cross examination
The ABA Journal’s McElhaney on Litigation features the topic of persuasive cross-examination and the difference between being firm and a jerk. Jim McElhaney writes (excerpt): “You can be firm. You can be insistent. You can be tough when it’s called…
The art of persuasion: negotiating with patience and endurance
The Twin City’s Star Tribune shows different ways of persuading people, including 5 negotiation ideas from Benjamin Franklin. Harvey Mackay writes (excerpt): •Be clear, in your own mind, exactly what you are seeking. •Do your homework, so that you’re fully…
Why am I so irritated?: Petty problems sabotage love
Psychology Today Magazine speaks for all lovers when it says, “You’re Driving Me Crazy!” This relationship advice helps us to not sweat the small stuff, but to actually change the way we think about it. Jay Dixit writes (excerpt): 1:…
Dear Abby’s 15 ways to spot an abuser
Dear Abby’s Abigail van Buren lists 15 warning signs of an abuser (excerpt): 1. Pushes for quick involvement: Comes on strong, claiming, “I’ve never felt loved like this by anyone.” An abuser pressures the new partner for an exclusive commitment…
Parenting your partner: If it works on your toddler, why not your husband or wife?
CNN and Parenting shows what happened when one mother applied parenting skills to her husband. By Fernanda Moore writes (excerpt): Strategy No. 1: Reward good behavior . . . . Good behavior rewarded leads to more good behavior. . .…
That man is an abuser: early warning signs for domestic violence
The Frisky at CNN shares her story of domestic violence and some tips on how to recognize and avoid domestic abuse. Judy McGuire writes (excerpt): Here are some behaviors to watch out for: Too close, too fast [coming on too…