Ask the ExpertsMediation

I thought I would use this opportunity to share with you a gem of a website that I found: www.ourfamilywizard.com. This site is a tool to assist separated or divorced families communicate over the Internet.

This can be called a form of “parallel parenting”, which is a way for parents to communicate without the need to interact face-to-face.

This site helps parents maintain and coordinate schedules, share health records, immunization histories, expense information, and other important family information. There is also an online storage tool to keep family documents safe and accessible to both parents.

How it works: Each parent is …

First, I want to congratulate you for recognizing that you need to focus energy on helping your kids get through your separation and/or divorce. The other day I heard a statistic from a U.S. based study which astonished me: 45% of families going through a divorce only say a couple of remarks to their kids to explain the fact that mom and dad are getting a divorce. 15% of families say nothing at all. Only 5% of families actually sit down with their children to explain what is happening to their family unit.

So often, kids think that their parents divorce …

Similar to the collaborative process which I introduced last month, mediation is a process which can also have tremendous positive effects on families going through separation and divorce.

Family Mediation is a safe and neutral environment in which families can resolve their disputes. A neutral mediator facilitates the parties’ discussions, encouraging them to identify and explore their core values while allowing them to find their own creative and unique solutions. Everything discussed in the mediation is 100% confidential.

The mediator does not provide legal advice. Parties are expected to each retain independent lawyers who may attend the mediation sessions, may provide advice …