by Nancy | Jul 23, 2025
Some labels are important. After all, I don’t want to grab jar of orange marmalade when I’m really looking for apricot preserves. Other than the important ones (like those on wine bottles), I dislike labels. I don’t like the scratchy ones inside my t-shirts,...
by Nancy | Jul 16, 2025
If you’re an employee who’s having or who has ever had an office romance, raise your hand. To be completely transparent, I’m raising my hand right now as well. Surveys report that 60% of people responding have dated a co-worker at one time or another and if...
by Nancy | Jul 9, 2025
Congratulations! Your youngest kid is off to college and now, for the first time in decades, it’s just the two of you. Sometimes that empty nest is an opportunity to strengthen your connection, and sometimes it’s a realization that there’s nothing...
by Nancy | Jul 2, 2025
I wish I would have kept track of how many times I’ve heard those words since I became a mediator. Mostly, the parties involved are siblings. No two stories are ever the same, and there is always a self-righteous undertone. “She’s the one who needs to apologize, not...
by Nancy | Jun 25, 2025
My divorce mediation clients often accuse each other of not having empathy. And I find myself tossing the word around like it’s commonplace. Honestly, I used to think either you have it or you don’t, and if you don’t, it’s too late to learn. ...
by Nancy | Jun 18, 2025
Several weeks ago, I ran into a former divorce mediation client when we were both exiting a nearby restaurant. We stopped to chat for a few minutes and she told me that she’d recently lost her grandmother. She said there were many mourners at the funeral...
by Nancy | Jun 11, 2025
I confess that I intensely dislike the title of this article. It’s cynical, negative, and is typically used in the context that when someone does something good or helpful, they may experience adverse consequences or hardships as a result. In other words,...
by Nancy | Jun 4, 2025
Whether you’re negotiating a real estate deal or which movie to see, occasionally you’re going to encounter an immovable force. You want to get your way but it’s not looking good. Do you cave? Will you seem weak? Do you push? Will your actions be perceived as overly...
by Nancy | May 28, 2025
I am a stickler for proper spelling, grammar, and manners. I’ve been known to reply to random posts on Facebook to point out the difference between “your” and “you’re.” I even have a file in my phone labeled “Typos” to store the numerous pictures...
by Nancy | May 21, 2025
We already know that relationships require trust. You trust the person who’s cleaning your house, and the babysitter who’s keeping your kids safe. You trust that your employees will take good care of your customers, and you trust the instructor who’s teaching...
by Nancy | May 14, 2025
Does your partner handle your finances? Let me share a story. In my first marriage, which was a very long time ago, my husband insisted on paying the household bills even though I was the greater breadwinner. Although I suspected we were living beyond our means,...
by Nancy | May 7, 2025
Everyone experiences some stress from time to time. Everyone can also admit to feeling anxiety from time to time. Many of us get angry more often than we’d like. In each and every moment of discontent, we all have the ability to deal with these negative emotions...
