What is Meant by a Gray Divorce? Part 1
{2:24 minutes to read}
You may have heard the term Gray Divorce and wondered what it meant. Typically, it refers to older adults who, in their 50s, 60s and older, have divorced their spouses.
Research reveals that the divorce rate for this age group has spiked significantly over the past twenty years. Two decades ago, adults 50 and older accounted for about 10% of divorces. Today, the divorce rate for this group has risen to nearly 25%, with half of those divorces occurring in long-term first marriages.
The Importance of Empathy
{3:54 minutes to read}
In my last blog, entitled Whatever Happened to Civility, I discussed some of the basic tenets that hopefully form the framework of our relationships with others. These include:
- Acknowledging others;
- Listening;
- Respecting others;
- Being inclusive;
- Accepting and giving praise; and
- Speaking kindly.
Whatever Happened to Civility?
{3:06 minutes to read} I’ve been thinking a lot recently about Civility, especially with everything that’s been going on in the U.S. political arena and the stark difference between the two presidential candidates. I suspect that young people today may not even recognize the word or know what being “civil” actually means. It has fallen out of use in today’s world.
3 Common Myths About Divorce Mediation
{3:24 minutes to read} Recently, I wrote a blog entitled “Divorce Mediation and the Pigeonhole Effect.” In that article, I spoke about the way divorce mediation has unjustifiably been “pigeonholed” by some professionals as being an effective approach for couples in conflict only in very limited situations. Now I’d like to expand upon my earlier discussion by identifying what I see as 3 of the most common misconceptions regarding mediation.
Untangling Lives: The Divorce Mediation Process
{3:48 minutes to read} Divorce mediation, as opposed to a contested divorce (in which each spouse hires an attorney and fights it out through the court system), is often a better choice for couples. When a couple decides to divorce, they need to begin the process of “disentangling” from each other. They can either approach this task in a humane and constructive way (which mediation supports), or they can let it degenerate into increased anger and animosity (which litigation often results in).
Divorce Mediation and the Communication Trap
{3:06 minutes to read} Earlier this year, one of my mediation couples was in the middle of a discussion as to how they were going to divide their financial assets. They had agreed to divide their bank and investment accounts equally and each retain their own retirement accounts. They then turned to the subject of the annual bonus the husband was scheduled to receive from his employer at the end of December.
Helping Parents Raise Well-Adjusted Children
{3:12 minutes to read} The NY Times published a recent opinion, entitled “To Help Kids Thrive, Coach Their Parents,” which I found especially interesting. The author, Paul Tough, referenced a number of studies that have been conducted over the years with respect to children’s development and well-being, demonstrating the positive role that coaching for parents can have in their children’s development.
Divorcing Parents and Their Emancipated Children
{2:36 minutes to read} If divorcing parents have children, the divorce law of the state in which they reside will determine the amount of child support that must be paid for the children’s basic and additional expenses. The state law will also specify until what age the parents are required to support their children.
Spring Cleaning and My New Website
{2:36 minutes to read}
I enjoy creating rituals for certain events or times in my life. For many people, including myself, spring is often a time to clean-up, certainly in our personal lives. My old website had been in existence for over 7 years, so this year I decided to extend the clean-up to my website, and to roll it out this spring. For sure, much has changed since that time, both in my professional life and also with respect to advancements in technology.
Back to Basics: Divorce Mediation
{4:12 minutes to read} What’s so special about divorce mediation? Plenty! Check out these Questions and Answers and you’ll understand why mediation may be the best choice for a divorcing couple.
What is divorce mediation?
It is a voluntary settlement process used by couples who want to separate or divorce.
