How much time is okay for my child to spend away from me? When our children are born, this question could not be further from our mind. Even on our hardest days (or nights) of parenting, needing a break from our kids rarely turns into “how much time can my child spend away from me?”.…
Details
Lies and Misinformation. What to do? It’s really easy when you hear your children parroting their other parent’s twisted truth or lies to defend yourself against accusations and set the record straight. Research shows that the one thing children, adolescents and young people dislike the most about their divorced situation is when they’re put in…
Details
A Child’s Insight My eldest child and I have a tumultuous relationship. We clash. Constantly. He doesn’t listen, can’t follow multiple instructions, loves mess and organisation is his least best skill. He’s a procrastinator, a ‘do as little as possible’ kinda kid, and he feels deeply. He’s me. He looks like me, thinks like his…
Details
STOP FIGHTING TODAY! If you’re separated or divorced and the communication between you and your ex-partner is swallowing you whole, fear not. There is something you can do to make it different, even when you’re not the one responsible. In fact, ESPECIALLY if you’re not the root of the problem. You can STOP FIGHTING! If…
Details
Diamonds are Dirt Under Pressure You’ll find there’s a common theme running through these blog posts – divorce and separation are hard. Yeah, yeah, you’ve told us! I hear you say. Or “Um, hello, preaching to the choir!” What I want you to remember today and on other days when you find yourself in the…
Details
School Holidays School holidays can be hard. Parenting is challenging when care isn’t shared. Co-parenting also presents difficulties but for different reasons, making it tough for both. If you are sharing the school holidays with your ex-spouse, I’m going to sound like a broken record, but please focus on your children and how…
Details
Parenting Plan or Consent Order? When families come to mediation, it’s usually because there’s issues they haven’t been able to agree on and they need support to end the arguing and make things different. But what should they DO with those agreements? Is a parenting plan enough to protect them? Is it the right time…
Details
How much does not going to mediation cost? Just about every time someone contacts me for mediation, their first question is “how much will it cost?”. Today, I was looking over my website and the page all about “how much it costs”. The header image is of a little girl looking up at her…
Details
Mother’s Day Mother’s Day is a special day for Mums everywhere. It’s an opportunity to get presents, brekkie in bed and a day together doing something fun with the kids. It’s also a time to foster in children the attributes of generosity and gratefulness. It’s a time to acknowledge everything mothers do. An occasion…
Details
Who’s problem is it anyway? Early school aged children are invited to lots of birthday parties. It’s a time when firm friendships have not yet been made and often the entire class is invited to celebrate this exciting milestone. Whether it’s an expensive play centre event, a lavish party or a low-key backyard gathering,…
Details