by Nancy | May 27, 2015
You’re thinking about ending your relationship. You’ve confided in your built-in support system: friends and family, most likely. They are automatically on your side, and you can and should be leaning on them. After all, your family and friends want you to...
by Nancy | Nov 7, 2014
When you are contemplating divorce, the most important considerations have to do with your children. Where will they live? With whom? What about child support? Health insurance? Vacations? Extracurricular activities? College expenses? Babysitting? As any divorced...
by Nancy | Oct 23, 2014
Mediation is an excellent alternative to the traditional (adversarial) divorce method. Not only is it much less expensive, it is much more expedient, and infinitely more peaceful. When mediating your divorce, you have meaningful conversations with your partner in...
by Nancy | Oct 14, 2014
“Andrea” was a teenager when her grandmother died. Among the many memories of time spent together, Andrea thought often about the simple glass bowl filled with M&Ms in the entryway of her grandmother’s house. After the funeral, the house was sold and the personal...
by Nancy | Oct 6, 2014
Relationships are contracts, whether or not legally sanctioned. They represent negotiations and deals, the details of which often change over time. If the parties cannot adjust to the inevitable changes, the relationship most likely will end. We’ve all heard...
by Nancy | Sep 29, 2014
Is it possible for two people to end their relationship in a fair and respectful manner without spending thousands of dollars on attorneys’ fees? Absolutely. Anger, resentment, disappointment, and betrayal are common feelings when a divorce is imminent....
by Nancy | Feb 12, 2014
16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before. I’m choosing to interpret this rule rather broadly. While it certainly would apply to visiting a foreign country, I think it can also mean venturing out of our comfort zones. Particularly as we age,...
by Nancy | Jan 13, 2014
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other. Parents. Children. Siblings. Family. We love them and we need them. We also have expectations of them — we need them to act a certain way, say...
by Nancy | Jan 7, 2014
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it. Ask anyone what “success” means, and you’ll hear a different answer each time. Ask what “compromise” means, and you’ll hear a similar answer every time. My...
by Nancy | Nov 14, 2013
There is no denying the special relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren. Yet sometimes that relationship becomes the collateral damage of a divorce. In mediation, when we help couples to “uncouple,” we always ask about grandparent time....
by Nancy | Oct 9, 2013
Co-parenting, the fashionable term for two parents who share the responsibility of rearing their children, can be complicated even under the best of circumstances. If custody, support and visitation are awarded by the court in a divorce, the terms are usually...
by Nancy | Oct 5, 2013
After Diana Nyad completed her historic swim from Cuba to Florida (at the age of 64), one of the first things she said was that “…you are never too old to chase your dreams.” I want to remember that. People who stay in stressful, unhappy situations...
