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...
by Nancy | Apr 30, 2025
Relationships, like life itself, rarely have a smooth, upward trajectory. It’s natural to experience periods of closeness and harmony, as well as periods of distance and conflict. Understanding that “ups and downs” are a normal and inevitable part of...
by Nancy | Apr 23, 2025
If you’ve been married more than 20 years and are contemplating divorce, you’re not alone. For more than 10 years, I have helped a surprising number of couples to end their long term marriages, some even after 45 years! This phenomenon has been labeled...
by Nancy | Apr 16, 2025
Because I’m a divorce mediator, the interaction between partners is always interesting to me. I pay particular attention to other diners when I’m at a restaurant. If the couple seems to barely engage in conversation with each other, or if they seem to be...
