When our differences with others are resolved in day-to-day interactions, those events receive little notice. Colleagues heading to lunch may have different ideas, but little difficulty settling on a restaurant that satisfies each. However, differences over more crucial matters escalate to actual conflict. A husband, fearing for the financial condition of the family, berates his [...]
Tyler's father moved out of the house three months ago. Tyler's parents were getting divorced. When his father asked Tyler how he was doing with everything that was happening, Tyler smiled and said: "It's fine, don't worry." But things were not fine. He and his older brother did not tell their parents how they really [...]
You're considering a legal separation from your spouse. You want to stay out of court. You would like to use collaborative law proceedings for separating together with attorneys who are expert in collaborative law. How do you choose your attorney? Here are five questions to ask any attorney you are thinking about hiring. Where [...]
Collaborative divorce has been a statutory alternative in North Carolina for over ten years. However, this option, which aims to be a healthier process than court for couples going through divorce remains underutilized, and many members of the family bar continue to resist embracing the process as a valid alternative to more adversarial divorce. A [...]
Though you once played on the same team, divorce has you feeling like you're playing on opposite sides of the court. But in the game of divorce, keeping score and blocking shots means no one wins. It's not uncommon to view divorce as a contest, like a basketball game, where one side must win and [...]
Some children will simply have a more intense reaction to their parents divorce than others. Neuroscientists have found that certain children are markedly more affected by experiencing new things, things as basic as being in a new place and as complex as loss or trauma. However, these same children also have the greatest potential to [...]
The holiday season can be difficult and stressful for recently divorced families and those going through divorce. During this treasured time of year, cherished family traditions may be altered or lost. Negotiating parenting time can become increasingly stressful for parents over holiday breaks due to pressure from extended family that is not normally felt during [...]
In healthy families following divorce, parents focus on meeting the needs of the children, both physically and emotionally. Children are not there to meet the needs of their parents. The following list includes seven common behaviors of post-divorce families with healthy children. What's the first clue? Parents are parenting and children are allowed to be [...]
Divorce ends the marriage relationship that you had, but if you are a parent, you and your children are still a family. The family takes on a new form. It requires attention to become healthy and solid after divorce. Establishing or continuing a shared set of values for the new family can help to establish [...]
Whatever the specific reason for the breakup of your marriage, you are separating or divorcing because an intimate level of trust has been lost. With this loss of trust, hard feelings often arise. Even if you don't experience hard feelings, there is often a breakdown, or further erosion, of communication between you and your spouse. [...]
The first thing to know about telling your children that you are separating is that your children can travel successfully through this life transition. The more confidence you have, the more confidence they will have. It will probably be bewildering and upsetting for them, but there are ways you can help them with the transition. [...]