Holding onto a Grudge and Letting it Go (Three Minute Read)

Holding onto a Grudge and Letting it Go (Three Minute Read)

by | 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...
Dealing with Aging Parents (Three Minute Read)

Dealing with Aging Parents (Three Minute Read)

by | 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...
Feeling Stuck? (Three Minute Read)

Feeling Stuck? (Three Minute Read)

by | 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...
What’s The Secret to a Lasting Marriage? (Three Minute Read)

What’s The Secret to a Lasting Marriage? (Three Minute Read)

by | 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...
Do You Have a Long-Lost Relative? (Three Minute Read)

Do You Have a Long-Lost Relative? (Three Minute Read)

by | 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...
The Conflict Resolution Pendulum (Three Minute Read)

The Conflict Resolution Pendulum (Three Minute Read)

by | 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...
My Mom Always Said “Never Say Never” (Three Minute Read)

My Mom Always Said “Never Say Never” (Three Minute Read)

by | 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...
How Much Does Peace Cost? (Three Minute Read)

How Much Does Peace Cost? (Three Minute Read)

by | 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...
Thinking About an Exit Strategy? (Three Minute Read)

Thinking About an Exit Strategy? (Three Minute Read)

by | 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...
Do You Know Your Triggers? (Three Minute Read)

Do You Know Your Triggers? (Three Minute Read)

by | 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...
Brad and Angelina’s Divorce (Three Minute Read)

Brad and Angelina’s Divorce (Three Minute Read)

by | Jan 8, 2025

I’m a little bit embarrassed to admit that I’ve been devouring all of the gossip concerning the finalization of Brad and Angelina’s divorce. My rationale is that I’m a divorce mediator, so I need to look at it for professional purposes.So much...