Equipping you to make sound decisions during your divorce.
Have you been there, overwhelmed, feeling as though the circumstances of your life are beyond your control? Your dreams, goals and life’s trajectory have all been turned around, upside-down and moved just beyond your reach? It’s that feeling of the rug being pulled out from under you, the free fall, trying to catch a hold onto what you once had, yet it’s all suddenly gone. It’s frightening.
If you’ve walked down the road of divorceRead more »
There is no shortage of reasons to celebrate the mothers in our lives. But single mamas are truly a spectacular sort, juggling it all and devoting every last resource to the health and happiness of their children. These women deserve all the accolades and all the love.
I encourage you to take a moment out of your dayRead more »
Dear Recently Separated, this post is for you.
Dear I Don’t Know Whether to Stay or Go, this post is for you.
Dear Overwhelmed Single Parent, this post is for you.
Dear Nobody Gets Just How Difficult This Is, this post, most of all, is for you.
For many, New Year’s can be an invigorating time; a time to look at the year ahead and dream of all that we are going to accomplish. After introspection and an assessment of how far we have come over the course of the past year, we create lists and charts elabourating upon the areas that we are going to improve in our lives. You might be looking at your health, your career or your co-parenting and evaluating the ways in which you could improve upon the status quo. You may feel inspired and prepared to make changes, ready to run out of the gates as that clock strikes midnight on December 31st.
But perhaps not.
Perhaps this is the year-end where you’ve felt bedraggled, alone and emotionally drained.Read more »
The Best Interests of the Child (BIC) is a primary factor by which living conditions and custody arrangements are determined in cases of familial breakdown. If you know someone who has experienced family law proceedings, it is likely that they will have heard the phrase a multitude of times prior to the stamping of a divorce decree.
While the phrase has made its way into colloquial terminology and is often mentioned loosely with regards to the creating of parenting plans, the actual definition of the term is lesser known.Read more »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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:
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 »
I remember the look on my dear friend’s face as though it were yesterday. It was one of shock, of pain, of utter loss. She sat there still and speechless, unsure of quite what to say. A hug, more tears, a few whispered words and the promise that she was but a call away if I needed anything at all. She had been the first stop after separating from my now ex-husband, all those years ago. Though I didn’t know at the time how I would get through tomorrow, I knew that I would need to call upon those closest to me for support in traversing the road ahead.
Since that time I have found myself looking on from a different vantage point, fielding calls from friends seeking advice on how to support another going through the process. Some of us are natural fixers, jumping in to pick up the slack and get the job done. Others are empaths. Still others simply find themselves at a loss and in the overwhelm turn the other way, hoping someone else will step in to take their place. Divorce is difficult to bear. It affects not only the nuclear family unit but oh so many hearts with whom that unit has become knitted. As with every challenge that befalls a loved one, divorce brings with it the opportunity to come together and offer the simplicity of love and support.
The difficult part is often knowing how.Read more »
