divorced
Sometimes a good divorce is better than a bad marriage.
Step-Children Don’t Like You? Don’t Worry, It’s Normal. Top Story - September 2017.
I left an abusive marriage more than 30 years ago when my three children were quite young. The following two years were spent repairing the damaged relationships with my sons, who had all but been ignored during the travesty that was my marriage. Even though I vowed never to remarry, I met a wonderful man who was the exact opposite of my former husband and eventually we were married. Our relationship was perfect and my children were very happy. In short, we had the perfect family. One-by-one my sons asked if they could call Tom "Dad" and of course no-one was happier than their new dad. Tom and I agreed at the beginning of our relationship that I alone would be responsible for disciplining the children because I was concerned they may resent him, so Tom basically became a good friend to my three sons.
By Mari-Louise Speirs8 years ago in Families
Does the Government Help with Child Maintenance?
In 2016, there were 2.9 million single parent families in the UK, according to the Office of National Statistics. In 86% of these, the single parent was the mother. According to Gingerbread, only 52% of these mothers receive any money at all from the fathers of their children. In many cases, the amount of money these fathers pay is extremely low, an average of £35 a week.
By Clare Scanlan9 years ago in Families
Memories
You're going to remember car rides. Lots and lots of car rides; maybe at first you'll remember sun seeping through trees and blinking as we pass other cars, other buildings. Eventually, you'll remember dark, with a toasty car while music quietly plays as tiny snowflakes melt against the glass. Maybe you'll remember stopping for cool drinks, and then hot chocolates, on our way home. You'll remember the shades of autumn against the windows, the way the air smells before the first snow, whipping in the window. You'll remember words to my favourite songs, and I'll remember the ones to yours.
By Amanda Fish9 years ago in Families
Who Should Support Your Child?
It should be self-evident that both parents will contribute towards the upkeep of their children. Both parents contributed equally to the child being born and children should not live in poverty or miss out on the things that their friends have just because their parents don’t live together. Even when there is a step-parent on the scene, that doesn’t mean that both parents shouldn't still take responsibility for the child’s upkeep.
By Clare Scanlan9 years ago in Families
So Dearly Disowned
Divorce can be a nasty beast and in the end, it is the children that suffer the most. My parents separated but still lived in the family house. My mum did her best but the endless rowing became the norm. My dad went completely postal! Cut up Mum’s underwear, salt in the sugar pot, padlocked what used to be their shared bedroom, relegated my mum to sleeping on the sofa and to top it off—he loosened the wheel nuts on the car! Luckily it was spotted before any real damage could occur—what if I and my two sisters had been in the car with mum on a motorway! It does not bear thinking about! I can understand that dad is angry and hurt but trying to harm his children and the mother of his children is unforgivable.
By Anabel Hudson9 years ago in Families
Top 7 Ways to Be a Kick-Ass Step-parent. Top Story - July 2017.
I’ve never been a fan of absolutes, but people seem to be drawn to listicles (myself included), so here is a concise list of knowledge I’ve acquired as a result of both my education in Humanistic and Clinical Psychology and my experience as a step-mother of two beautiful young human beings.
By Kristy Loxton9 years ago in Families
