This week, the world watched as two stranded astronauts finally returned to Earth. Originally scheduled to be away for just eight days, their journey unexpectedly stretched into nine long months. It was a powerful reminder that life is unpredictable—things don’t always go as planned, and sometimes, we must find new ways to move forward.

When parents divorce, it’s as if a new chapter is being written in their child’s life. This chapter, while inevitable for many families, can take vastly different tones. Children are deeply influenced by the dynamics they experience during this time.

Are you ready to design your new life or would you prefer to marinate in a sauce of what I call FHAD: Fear, Hurt, Anger, and Disappointment? Here are some indicators that couples are ready for mediation.

For many, pets are like family members, offering love, companionship, and comfort during difficult times. However, determining pet custody isn’t always straightforward. Mediation can help.

Divorce brings with it a whirlwind of emotional and practical decisions, and one of the most significant is deciding what to do with the family home. Mediation can help.

Conflict can bring out the most intense emotions in people—anger, defensiveness, frustration, or even withdrawal. But when someone reacts strongly during a disagreement, it’s often about more than the surface issue at hand.

When people think about divorce, they often picture courtroom showdowns, pricey lawyers, and enough paperwork to make you want to crawl into bed for a week.

Mediation is an empowering, less litigious and less costly alternative.

When I tell people I am a mediator, they very often look at me quizzically and say, "meditation"? No, mediation. Let’s explore what mediation really is and why it’s such a powerful conflict resolution tool.

Life transitions, especially those involving divorce or separation, can leave us feeling like the ground beneath our feet is shifting making each step slow and uncertain. It can be difficult to breathe, difficult to think, and near impossible to imagine the future beyond the next few minutes. I know this because I’ve been there.

Mediation is a unique and powerful process that empowers individuals to resolve conflicts in a constructive and mutually beneficial way. At the heart of mediation lies a critical principle: the power of making your own decisions.

You may be divorced but you will never stop being a parent to your child. And neither will your  ex. And that means you and your ex will be co-parents. It’s so important for children to feel  safe, secure and loved by both parents, especially during and after divorce.

This initial conversation is incredibly important as it will set the tone for your divorce and for the future of your family.

While it is important that children have parenting time with both parents, living together, sharing meals and daily routines, they shouldn’t have to pack and unpack and remember to bring what they need to settle in comfortably in each home.