Monday, November 14, 2011

Divorce and the Holidays: Remember STRESSED Spelled Backwards Is DESSERTS!


Photo used with permission from Dailyville

by Nigel Lawson


The holidays can be a difficult time of  year, especially for single moms and dads. Stress over shared custody scheduling can overwhelm parents, turning joyous occasions into holiday nightmares.  Don't let this derail what is important --the quality time you spend with your children.  Yes, quality over quantity is always best when it comes to shared custody, so I want to provide parents with a holiday activity guaranteed for fun. 

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Veteran's Day: Supporting Our Separated & Divorced Veterans

Photo used under Creative Commons from US Army Africa


 by Nigel Lawson

With the end of the war in Iraq and return of 40,000 troops by the holidays, this Veteran's Day is one to be thankful for.  When we honor our troops this year, it's not only important to remember those who sacrificed their lives for our country, but  it's equally important to support returning soldiers who may still face obstacles here at home. 

Aside from the physical injury, post-tramatic stress disorder, government red tape over disability benefits, and simply assimilating back into civilian life, many returning veterans must also deal with the challenges of divorce.  According to Pentagon statistics, since the start of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001, the divorce rate among military personnel has increased from  2.6 percent to 3.6 percent in 2010.  The Pentagon also reported 9% of enlisted women had their marriage end in divorce - about three times that of enlisted men at just over 3%.