Parents with Patience Part 2: A Co-Parenting Conversation Series “Are you going to respond?” “Please respond.” “I am not going to bring Billy’s baseball shoes that he needs until you answer my question about the summer parenting dates in 5 months.” “I need a response.” “Are you too busy to be a good parent?” “I…
Time to Talk Part 1: A Co-Parenting Conversation Series I can’t remember ever having felt nervous with my former spouse. Maybe twenty years ago when we met on April 1, 1999. For my last year of law school, my sister and I moved into a quaint duplex near the state capitol. He was the boy…
I am not sure which of us was more excited or more nervous. My daughter was coming to court after school to watch me. This was the first time in her 14 years that she had taken interest in what her mom does. After watching me spend atypical evenings and weekends working on what I…
Last week, Angela had one of the most complicated and intense trials of her career. She was reminded of this blog she wrote back in 2016, and the timeless advice contained within. I could feel it before I could see it. I knew immediately that something was off. I walked down the courthouse corridor, unaware…
Sophia wanted her turn. We sat at the dinner table going through our days and she was anxious to share. It was a 7th grade drama – a mild version of mean girls. Sophia set the scene. “We were playing a trick on Josie and hiding her book. I don’t know why. It’s just a…
My stomach and heart clenched up when I received my daughter’s message. “Dad is going to drop us off at the mall while he runs an errand.” My children were 6th and 4th graders at the time. “He what????” I wanted to reply. But I didn’t. First I fumed for a full two minutes. Then…
I thought it was a misprint. 14 children. I reread it. My logical mind struggled. I convinced myself “that must include grandchildren.” I was reading the obituary of a beloved Saint Cecilia Elementary teacher – Mrs. Margaret Swanson. She taught both of my daughters in their first grade years. Mrs. Swanson perfectly struck the near…
My Christmas tree died a week before Christmas. The branches were weighed down to the floor in a giant 8-foot droop. The star on top tilted to the left along with the sagging sapless branches. I should have known it was a sign. I should have known it would contribute to the sadness that would…
I didn’t want to think about it. Let alone talk about it. Worse even to write about it. All of those actions would make it more real. Several weeks ago, I reluctantly agreed that my former spouse could take our daughters on a trip over the holiday. The rub is that they will be gone…
I couldn’t wait. It was likely going to be our own version of a Hallmark Christmas movie. But this one would be about a mother and her teenage daughters having the most magical Christmas time ever. No plot twists were allowed that would involve a hardship to overcome. My daughters and I were off to…