While divorce can be hard, co-parenting can often be harder. As a divorce mediation and collaborative family law attorney, I offer co-parenting guidance for families that are looking to create a suitable parenting agreement for all parties involved. I have first-hand experience with being a co-parent. As a mother and stepmother, I know how important it is to have a supportive and helpful parenting partner.

January is International Child-Centered Divorce Awareness Month. This annual recognition aims to raise awareness of the impact divorce can cause on children and how to prevent unnecessary emotional and psychological trauma. Each year, the awareness month becomes more popular – it’s now in its 14^th year and is signified around the world.

This holiday season, we’re all dealing with more than we anticipated. It’s been a difficult year for many reasons and many families are experiencing stress and tension. That’s why I’m working to spread awareness about healthy co-parenting techniques for families of divorce.

Throughout my career as a licensed mediator and attorney, I’ve worked with many families as they navigate the divorce journey. I know the impact divorce can have on a child, especially when it comes to mental health. I’m also a mother who experienced divorcing with children. I know firsthand how it can affect them. That’s one of the many reasons why I advocate for out-of-court divorce options like mediation and collaborative law.

Halloween is typically a favorite holiday for my family, although this year is expected to look much different thanks to COVID-19.  As our children have grown up, October was always a month that we all looked forward to for festive fun. 

It’s hard to believe we’re approaching the fall and winter holiday season. It’s even harder to believe that we are still dealing with the implications of COVID-19 as we prepare to celebrate the holidays. For many families, the concepts of social distancing and smaller gatherings will have an impact on how they attend and/or host Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. For families of divorce, this time of year often presents challenges.