Whether you ended the relationship, or your partner ended it against your desire or it was mutual, doesn’t matter when it comes to healing and moving forward with growth. What can often go missing during these times is to consider the fact that the purpose of relationships are to help you grow to evolve into…
A sure way to make a separation painful and bitter is to have a court battle. True, there are some hard cases that need to be decided by a judge. But many don’t, especially in today’s environment where there are numerous options for out of court dispute resolution processes, including collaborative practice and mediation. These…
A hot housing market adds another complication to the lives of divorcing couples and their kids. Some estranged couples opt for unorthodox solutions like living separate lives under the same roof because they can’t afford to move. I also know of situations where the children live in the family home full time, and it’s the…
Lawyers are lawyers. Sounds obvious doesn’t it? However, family lawyers (and mediators) routinely deal with legal matters that take place in emotionally charged and/or financially complex situations. They are highly skilled professionals. But it would be unreasonable to expect your legal professional to know and take care of every possible issue that comes up in…
I have never read so many quotes as when I was going through my divorce, it seemed as though whatever quote that crossed my path was speaking directly to me, and it was just the one I needed to hear at that exact moment. My best friends, Facebook and Instagram, must have all been able…
I haven’t seen my 13-year old daughter, Rowan, for more than a week. And I won’t be seeing her for another three weeks, as she spends the rest of the summer with her Daddy. I know they went to Switzerland to visit friends, but I didn’t know the address or even who these friends were….
Lots of people seek out the services of a therapist/counsellor when they are at a point in their relationship when they feel it is time to move on. Typically people come in to see me when they are at the end of their relationship rope and are seeking the services of a therapist to see…
What are your actual needs? Determining them is vital. Many spouses are made to believe that they can obtain the moon, or the proverbial pie, so to speak, so they enter into legal battle fully armoured, armed and out for blood. However, battle inevitably leads to casualties, wounding and loss. Each lawyer promising the moon,…
After trolling in a FB group, dedicated to those getting divorced and then how to co-parent, I now feel I too must share all the negative traits of my daughter’s father, along with why and when he pisses me off as we co-parent, and what really lead to the dissolution of our common law marriage….
Co-parenting, whether living together or apart, loving or hating one another, is always a challenge. Different people have different experiences, opinions and values which inevitably leads to differences in parenting. It would sometimes be so much easier to parent if I could make all the decisions myself but alas, it doesn’t work that way when…