by Nancy | Apr 2, 2025
Just last week, I started a divorce mediation with a couple going through a particularly ugly break-up. Practically the first thing they told me was that they they often fight in front of their kids. And they acknowledged the negative impact.I shared some insight by...
by Nancy | Mar 26, 2025
You and your mother-in-law had the fight to end all fights. Granted, it was a long time ago, but it was never resolved. You didn’t have closure. There wasn’t even an agreement to disagree. Just silence. Out of respect for your spouse, you continued to go through...
by Nancy | Mar 19, 2025
Many people I know are dealing with aging parents or grandparents about some or all of these issues: (1) Care, safety and comfort; (2) Mobility; (3) Living situation; (4) Companionship; (5) Sexuality; (6) Mental capacity; and (7) End of life decisions.Wow! Tough...
by Nancy | Mar 12, 2025
Have you ever been stuck in a conflict that ends with an impasse? Maybe your co-workers have refused additional responsibility, or your teenager won’t respect a curfew. Maybe your spouse “forgets” to mention use of the debit card, or your babysitter...
by Nancy | Mar 5, 2025
As a divorce mediator, I can share many reasons why marriages end. But as we all know, a majority of marriages thrive. I often ask couples who seem to have figured it out to share their formula for success. The answers run the gamut from separate bathrooms (my...
by Nancy | Feb 26, 2025
Last month, I had the privilege of conducting a family mediation with three siblings who found each other through a national DNA search organization. The youngest sibling, “Christina,” asked me to help the newly discovered family deal with the potential...
by Nancy | Feb 19, 2025
How do you start or restart a pendulum? You give it a hearty push and it goes all the way to the left, and then all the way to the right, and so on, until it settles in the middle. I use this analogy frequently in my mediation practice, especially when I’m talking to...
by Nancy | Feb 12, 2025
I was conducting a divorce mediation recently, and the couple asked me to help them communicate in a more respectful way. The wife felt unappreciated and said to the husband, “You never give me a compliment.” He immediately denied it, and here’s why. It’s...
by Nancy | Feb 5, 2025
t should come as no surprise to you that peace has a price tag. Due to the recent passing of President Jimmy Carter, I was reminded of the Camp David Accords, and the deal negotiated by President Carter resulting in one of the most famous peace treaties in history...
by Nancy | Jan 29, 2025
No matter whether you’re about to quit your job or end your relationship, strategically planning the exit means setting emotions aside while you make a practical “to do” list. This is neither the time nor the place to improvise. Instead, and before your internal GPS...
by Nancy | Jan 22, 2025
Once in awhile, I like to shift my focus from relationships that are ending to relationships that are enduring. Nice twist, right?Whether you’ve been together for two years or 42 years, I’m sure you’ll agree that your relationship has gone through...
by Nancy | Jan 15, 2025
Can you cry on demand? I can. All I need to do is conjure up a memory about my late husband or my deceased parents, and the tears start to roll. Those memories are emotional triggers for me. During a recent divorce mediation I used the word “appreciation” and, as it...
