Sunday, August 24, 2008

Back to School for Children Means Time for Divorced Parents to Communicate

Guest Author: Cindy Harari, Esq.


Beginning the school year can be stressful as the lazy days of summer give way to a more rigorous schedule. The hectic pace of school, extracurricular activities and parental work schedules is especially challenging for divorced families where children shuttle between two homes. Many children have had the unfortunate experience of being at one parent’s home and needing something that is at the other parent’s home. These situations create stress for everyone involved, and now is the perfect time for divorced parents to think about how to avoid them.


The most basic tool for parents is the calendar. In addition to the academic schedule, each parent needs to calendar extracurricular activities for each child. It is the responsibility of each parent to keep track of each child’s activities including times, dates, locations, transportation, and equipment.


Ongoing access to information is important, but do not use your child as a messenger. Parents should be on an e-mail list and/or mailing list for every activity that each child is involved in. Parents need to be proactive regarding their responsibilities, and allow children the freedom to flourish during their childhood.


What if your child receives an invitation to a birthday party or a notice of a school trip? Make sure your child’s other parent knows about it by calling, sending a fax or e-mail. Does the event conflict with prior plans? Consider the value of flexibility and the best interest of your child.


Sometimes, the Marital Settlement Agreement (also known as the Divorce Agreement) includes a comprehensive parenting plan. Often, however, divorced parents must work out parenting issues that are not specifically settled in their Agreement. Communication is critical, especially between divorced parents. Now is the time to make sure the lines of communication are open, to make a fresh start for the school year.


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Cindy Harari is an attorney with a non-traditional approach that empowers clients to create a peaceful divorce and co-parenting relationship.Licensed to practice law in New York and Florida, she is trained mediator, arbitrator, coach, and parenting coordinator and an expert in problem-solving and alternative dispute resolution. Cindy educates clients about the complex issues involved with divorce, parenting and family law. She coaches her clients to develop the unique communication skills and problem-solving techniques necessary to create a peaceful divorce. She can be reached at cindyharari@aol.com

Monday, August 11, 2008

FreeTele-seminar on Post-Divorce Dating

Join me for a FREE Tele-seminar with a special guest author on

Wednesday, August 13th at 9 pm EST (6 pm PT)


The topic will be: Divorced with Children? How to Get Back Out There into the Dating World!


If you are divorced with children, you have much to consider before getting back into dating. Come hear me interview Amy Schoen, a dating-relationship life coach who will share valuable insights about post-divorce dating.


Learn about the best places to meet people who are kid-friendly ... pitfalls to avoid ... success strategies that really work.


Whether you are contemplating dating or have already started dating, you will be enlightened and motivated by the wisdom Amy shares.


After the interview, we will have time for a few questions. Please email your questions directly to Amy at coachamy@heartmindconnection.com.


Amy Schoen is a certified professional life coach and a dating and relationship expert who coaches s.ingles to attract the right relationship into their lives and couples to create the relationships of their dreams.


She speaks professionally to adult learning classes, organizations and social groups. Amy is the author of "Get It Right This Time: How to Find and Keep Your Ideal Romantic Relationship and "Motivated to Marry: Now There's a Better Method to Dating and Relationships." She has been featured in the Washington Post newspaper, the Washington Examiner, as well as, interviewed on TV, radio and online magazines. Learn more about Amy's coaching and helpful tips at www.HeartmindConnection.com.


When you sign up for the tele-seminar, you will receive the quiz, "Are You Ready for the Right One?" excerpted from Amy’s book, "Get It Right This Time: How to Find and Keep Your Ideal Romantic Relationship."


Sign up at www.heartmindconnection.com/teleseminar-aug08.html for the F.REE tele-seminar on Wednesday, August 13th at 9 pm EST.


We hope you can join us!