“I’d rather live in a gutter” is what an elderly mother once said in response to her seven adult children fighting over her rather expensive care. Money wasn’t the issue, but the conflict lived on. Mediation was ultimately the answer. However, the mother, who previously had a happy family, had to endure years of turmoil, guilt, and a fractured family that she loved so much. Dementia doesn’t protect our elders from emotional upheaval. While it is sad to watch family members decline, it is also an opportunity for the next generation to make the last years of their parents’ lives as peaceful as possible. How do we do that? • If arguments start happening, bring in a mediator sooner rather than later. Many families wait until there is litigation and that’s too late. • A family counselor can also be helpful to provide a sounding board so that all voices can be heard. In that way, it is similar to … Read More
How Do We All Get Along?
One thing that we can all agree on is that the level of our private and public discourse has reached a low point and is unacceptable to most of us. In addition to being unpleasant, we are also not solving the critical and urgent problems facing us as a world, a nation, and often our families. One of the aspects of dealing with difficult issues is that they do need complex and diverse thinking to solve them; If they were easily solved, they wouldn’t still be with us. Many of our problems need people from different viewpoints to come together and offer their ideas with wisdom and open-mindedness to find an outcome within that synergy. How do we do this? 1. Let’s approach each person we encounter with an open mind and heart. We truly are all in this together and there probably really is more we have in common than what divides us. We want to look for what … Read More
6 Ways to Derail a Mediation…
Mediation can be an extraordinary process of resolving conflicts that have been there for years. By its nature, mediation tends to be successful. Over 90% of mediation cases are successful nationwide.
5 Things Celebrities Can Teach Us About Divorce…
Perhaps you have noticed, celebrities almost universally avoid courtroom drama and prefer Mediation. Why? There are a number of reasons, this article addresses just 5 of them. The driving factors depend on the interest of the individuals to achieve an amicable end goal for everyone involved. 1. CELEBRITIES GENERALLY WANT CONTROL over what information is released to the press. Private Mediations are confidential. Arguments and disagreements fought in the Court System are not Confidential. The public, neighbors, family, friends, and co-workers seek details if they are available. 2. INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A HIGH NET WORTH often have complex financial situations. Judges and lawyers generally are not financial specialists. There can, therefore, be a high risk of an unexpected or adverse outcome. A negotiated out-of-court settlement obtained through mediation eliminates risk because both parties must agree. 3. MANY HIGH PROFILE CLIENTS usually do not like being told what to do, and that includes even being told what to do by judges. … Read More