It’s Never Too Late for Reinvention (Three Minute Read)

It’s Never Too Late for Reinvention (Three Minute Read)

Those of you who’ve known me for a while might recall that I have reinvented myself several times. After the death of both my parents and my husband in a 20-month time span, I reinvented myself on a massive scale. No longer a daughter or a wife, for the first...
Setting Boundaries (Three Minute Read)

Setting Boundaries (Three Minute Read)

I have come to realize that I have a difficult time setting boundaries. As a result, sometimes I feel under-appreciated, and sometimes downright taken for granted. Why is this so hard for me? Is it because of my birth order (youngest of three)? Is it because I like to...
Disagreement Without Disrespect (Three Minute Read)

Disagreement Without Disrespect (Three Minute Read)

Sometimes when I’m conducting a divorce mediation, I think I’m a puppeteer, pulling the strings of my disagreeing clients, and trying to steer them away from any accompanying disrespect. I’m not always successful, though. I’ve heard spouses...
The Business of Running a Family (Three Minute Read)

The Business of Running a Family (Three Minute Read)

If you’re a member of a family, chances are you’ve participated in a family meeting. Whether you’re deciding about pizza toppings, which movie to watch, or where to go on vacation, if there’s more than one decision maker, somehow a consensus arrives. My dad used to...
It Takes a Village (Three Minute Read)

It Takes a Village (Three Minute Read)

In case you were wondering, the expression “it takes a village” apparently originated from an African proverb emphasizing the importance of community in raising a child.  It is also the title of a book written by Hillary Clinton more than 10 years ago...
Slow Down! (Three Minute Read)

Slow Down! (Three Minute Read)

As we are becoming more and more dependent on the instant gratification of checking with Google (or Siri, or Alexa), I wonder if our own impatience can be causing harm. Raise your hand if you’ve recently found yourself doing any of the following:Interrupting...
Reacting vs. Responding (Three Minute Read)

Reacting vs. Responding (Three Minute Read)

Let’s start out with a quiz: 1. You’ve been sitting at a red light forever.  It finally turns green but the driver in front of you isn’t paying attention, probably texting, and the cars in all the other lanes are proceeding through the intersection.  Do...
What Are Your Expectations? (Three Minute Read)

What Are Your Expectations? (Three Minute Read)

“I don’t know what my expectations are until they’re not met.” ~ Chuck LorreI’ve been dealing with expectations lately, both my own and those of my mediation clients. When considering my personal ones, I don’t often clearly identify the...
Kids, We’re Getting Divorced (Three Minute Read)

Kids, We’re Getting Divorced (Three Minute Read)

Telling your kids that you’re getting a divorce is one of the most significant and impactful conversations you’ll ever have, so it makes sense to do the best you can. Even if you haven’t been on the same page with your spouse for ages, it’s extremely important in this...
Are You a Scorekeeper?  (Three Minute Read)

Are You a Scorekeeper? (Three Minute Read)

Are you a scorekeeper? Do you keep track of whether it’s your turn to buy lunch? Do you always do your best to keep a conversation balanced? Do you remember who’s had you over for dinner? Or are you the one who never reaches for the check? Are you the kind of friend...
How do you Define Romance? (Three Minute Read)

How do you Define Romance? (Three Minute Read)

Well, it’s almost Valentine’s Day, a holiday I both love and abhor.  I love it because I like to believe I’m romantic, and I abhor it because the day causes inevitable stress for many people whose expectations aren’t met. The thing is, if you...