Spring cleaning after divorce

Spring is a time for renewal. It’s a time when we throw the windows open, welcoming in the fresh air and the long awaited warmer weather (ok, perhaps still waiting for the warmer weather this year). We clear out the old to make space for the new. For some, the idea of a spring cleaning and a fresh start carries with it a poignant significance.

If you’ve been through a separation or divorce over the course of the last few months, you might welcome this opportunity to begin anew. While acknowledgingRead more »

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title: demystifying child custody, girl over picture of girl on a swing

As parents we live for our children, often setting aside personal needs and wants in order to provide them with an optimal upbringing. Ask a parent what their deepest desire for their children is and more often than not their answer will be simply for their children to have a healthy, happy life and an understanding that they are loved. In cases of marital or relationship breakdown, parents are inevitably faced with one of the most difficult experiences that parenthood may bring: navigating division of custodial rights and parenting time in planning for their children’s future. In order for parents to knowledgeably make these critical decisions for their children’s future, it is helpful to first understand the concepts behind them.

The Meaning of “Child Custody”

One of the greatest misconceptions when it comes to discussing child custody isRead more »

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Post Title: A Year of Conquering Fear, overlayed upon sparkler.

There’s something invigorating about the year’s beginning. Everywhere we glance there is another article about new year’s resolutions or reflections on the past year’s accomplishments. Mid-way into January, the daylight hours are incrementally beginning to lengthen. Despite the frosty cold outside, we begin to think of the warmer days to come, not too far off; subconsciously we begin mapping out the months ahead.

Recently I heard the ideaRead more »

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Title Image, back to school after divorce, elementary school age, overlayed upon apple and schoolbooks

Change is in the air, floating in on the late summer breeze. Another year of school is upon us. You’ve been gathering supplies and getting back to routines – and if you and your spouse have recently been through a divorce, there are additional preparations that you’ll want to ensure are completed before the start of the new school year. Both emotionally and logistically there are a number of areas to which it’s important to give attention if your family structure has recently undergone such a major change as divorce.

School can often provide an oasis for children who have seen significant changes at home. The comfort of friends and consistent routines, coupled with academic and extracurricular engagements during the school day offer solace. By being proactive and taking the following steps, you canRead more »

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With summer around the corner and school about to let out, families everywhere are putting the finishing touches on summer travel plans. Whether headed for the beach, cross country to visit family or on a sightseeing trip, family travel is a time to build lasting memories and shared experiences. These trips are a time to write stories that families will fondly recall for years afterward.

Are you a newly single parent wondering how to get back into the travel game?

Travel plans can belong to single parents too, with just a little forethought and planning. I’ve jam packed this post with tips and tricks to make travelling solo as economical and frazzle free as possible!Read more »

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Gavel and legal statutes

Choosing a lawyer is amongst the most significant decisions you’ll be making throughout your divorce process. The lawyer you choose to retain will have a major impact on the sort of divorce settlement you create. A lawyer should be thorough, efficient, proficient in family law, and compassionate.

Being mindful of the following ideas will assist you in finding the lawyer that is best suited to represent your needs, and to ensuring that you are aware of your legal rights and obligations.Read more »

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Title superimposed over confused cartoon man

Decades ago, getting divorced meant navigating a life event that was the exception from the norm. The divorcing individual was seen as traversing a unique path and breaking new ground. In contrast, today we are fortunate that when someone is going through the process there are others who have come before who have turned their experiences into resources for those who would come next. There are now social services, government supported resources, advocacy groups and educational initiatives dedicated to families in transition.

That said, each experience of divorce is unique and for most, the experience can feel akin to one who is walking into the darkness without a road-map or a light. The road is vast and intimidating. As with the fresh diagnosis of an illness, someone who is experiencing divorce is looking for answers, resources and information in an arena where they have no experience until they’re thrown head-first into crisis control.

Once a marriage has reached its functional end, there are questions that arise:

  • How does one initiate a divorce?
  • In what length of time will the divorce be finalized?
  • How will property be divided?
  • What is going to happen with the children?

Before plunging into the process, there are a number of recommended steps to take. Jot down all the concerns and questions you have. Clarify your starting point so that you can move forward strategically in your divorce. What questions do you need answered? What are your priorities? Mapping out your concerns will show you what information you need to find and from which various professionals you will need to seek expert opinions and advice.Read more »

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Boy standing alone looking out over water

“Where does your dad live?”

This is the question that greeted my son as he and I walked into a friend’s house a short while ago. The question was posed by a friend with whom he has grown up; a girl who knows our family well. Ours being a single parent home is a norm that has always been quietly present, an unspoken fact in the background of our get-togethers, quietly contrasting with this girl’s family dynamics. She was, for the first time, coming to the realization that our two families bear somewhat different structures and was curious enough to ask about the apparent discrepancy.

As children reach kindergarten age they begin to comprehend nuances of the world around themRead more »

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I remember the first time I walked out of a training course in domestic abuse. Having lasted several days, the course left me sobered. It left me reeling. Do millions of individuals across Canada and the United States alone live out this nightmare daily as we go about our lives?

I went on to complete my training and began applying these teachings in my work with mediation clients. TheRead more »

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