chores
They say you get to know your partner more when you start living together under the same roof. Learn how to work with your partner to pay for bills and more importantly, do chores. A “traditional” marriage is letting the woman stay at home and do all the dirty work. This is obviously unfair treatment, especially when the husband isn’t doing anything to help. This might cause problems in the long run. Now, it’s different and more progressive: Couples work as a team to make their marriage work and last a long, long time. So, how do you split the housework between you and your spouse?  The first thing you need to do is sit down and discuss what needs to be done daily and weekly. Wash the dishes, do the laundry, take out the trash—all that stuff. Once you list all that down, ask each other which tasks are plausible to do considering your respective schedules.  One effective pattern you can follow is alternating tasks each day. Example: The wife can wash the dishes on Monday, Wednesday, Friday; husband does the same on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. You can also dedicate one day—we suggest Sunday—to do chores together. Do the laundry and vacuum the whole house every week. Go out and spend quality time after. What if one of you can’t do their assigned chores for a certain day? Just ask your spouse nicely to switch days with you. Make sure you don’t go back on your promise and you don’t skip chores all the time. You should always have a good reason for not doing your part. Another important thing to remember is help is always appreciated. If you’re having problems, ask help. If you see that your spouse is struggling, offer a hand. Splitting the housework may […]

How to Divide Chores at Home for a Lasting Marriage   Recently updated !

This entry was posted in Marriage Parenting on by
parent 2
When you are getting a divorce, establishing the rights and duties of Texas parents before the divorce is finalized is a must. It is also important to pay attention to the parenting plan that will be included in your final divorce decree. The parenting plan will include many things such as a guide to the rights and duties of Texas parents until the children graduate high school or turn 18, as well your considerations regarding your child after the divorce. In other words, the parenting plan will include information about conservatorship and child support as well as access and possession information. These factors cover the different parenting methods you’d have to adapt following the divorce. Of course, these factors are basically the same ones you need to maintain a good relationship with your child even while staying married. It’s just that in a divorce, the judge will spell out your duties and responsibilities clearly in a legal document. Most parents are most concerned about how much time they’d be allowed to spend with the children after the divorce. Here are the things you need to know about the factors mentioned above so that you can feel at ease somehow, and so that you can prepare for possible custody issues. Rights and Duties of Texas Parents in Conservatorship Every parent can relate to that longing for more time with the children. We all know how critical it is for our child’s growth and well-being too. When you are going through a divorce, it is natural to worry about these things more than usual. You will realize the importance of the time you get to spend with your child when you are on the verge of losing it. Of course, unless you have done something extreme, you won’t lose the right to […]

The Rights and Duties of Texas Parents   Recently updated !

This entry was posted in Child Custody Child Support Divorce Parenting on by
cyber visitation
Virtual Visitation has been successfully incorporated into laws of some states that that are concerned with custody and visitation. Texas is one of these states. Definition The use of any kind of technology to communicate with the child when physical visitation is impossible. Any application or software that allows video chatting and any similar technology are all considered as virtual visitation platforms.  Pros and Cons Virtual visitation is important especially to a parent who works far away from the place of residence of the child. A prime example of this situation is those working overseas such as those serving in the military. Virtual visitation gives the parents who are away from their children a chance to communicate with the child. It also promotes a long-lasting relationship between the parent and child despite the absence of normal visitation.  The upside of virtual visitation is giving parents who are far to continue building a good relationship with their child. Simply being present in important events of your child such as holidays, school events or just having a good conversation with them at the end of the day, in some real way or manner, can really make a huge impact in the life of their child.  On the other hand, a downside of this kind of visitation is the fact that it cannot successfully replace normal physical visitation because this includes intimacy which is not present in virtual visitation. As a parent, no technology can replace holding your loved ones especially a parent being able to hug their young child. In addition to Physical Visits Some parents are concerned about virtual visitation becoming the new normal visitation in this day and age of technology. Hence, they think that courts will have virtual visitation as an option for the latter to order. An important […]

The Importance of Virtual Visitation for Separated Parents   Recently updated !

This entry was posted in Child Custody Father's Rights Parenting on by
ex-spouse
Let me just share to you an open letter of a friend (who wants to remain anonymous) to his ex-spouse. Dear ex-spouse, I know we’ve had our differences, but I’m proud of us for getting through this. They say nothing lasts forever, and I agree, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we can’t be on good terms out of respect, especially considering our children. I want you to imagine the first time we met. How strangers became friends, then lovers, husband and wife, parents, before eventually, ex-spouses. What we went through was rough, it had all kinds of bumps on the road. There was a time I thought I wouldn’t get through it, but I did. We did.  Now imagine that first time with someone new. I’m not cuffing your wings anymore. Fly as freely as you want to find yourself, rekindle your passions, or foster new relationships. I know I would. We both have our whole lives ahead of us. This divorce is a minor setback, but don’t ever let it define you or your life. We had our challenges, but I would never exchange our experiences for another because that made me who I am today. It may have been too much to handle at one point, but we powered through. There just came a time when we couldn’t, and that’s okay. As humans, I think that we are strongest when we accept our weaknesses. I think this because I know it’s not easy. We will try to bounce back from anything that might push us down, but sometimes, we just can’t. And I want you to know that that’s perfectly fine. I want to thank you for the years you spent with me. We had our moments filled with love and passion and smiles, but there were also […]

To My Ex-Spouse, With Love   Recently updated !

This entry was posted in Divorce Marriage on by
drug addiction
Drug addiction in any way is not beneficial to anybody. It is even more detrimental when more people become affected by just one person’s drug addiction. One of the many examples of being affected by drug addiction is in the family. When Drug Addiction or Substance Abuse is in the picture, it is very dangerous for a family to easily be broken physically, emotionally and spiritually. Substance Abuse is very dangerous and can have a lot of negative impacts on the lives of the spouses and the children. This may lead to a very complicated life, and may lead for the children to take after their abusive mother or father. These kinds of cases should not be taken lightly as there are other factors that need to be considered in order to avoid further damage to other lives. Deprivation of Custody In the state of Texas, the Family Code states that the one important part of the family that must be protected at all times are the children and their rights as citizens of the United States. The Family Code values the children and in the eyes of the law, the children must always be under the protection of those who are fit enough to provide for them and their basic needs. A custody issue can arise from a Drug Addiction problem. The Judge will have to decide on the basis of the best interest of the child taking into consideration the needs of the child and the means and capability of the parents to provide for those needs. This will include the provision of food, shelter, clothing and the safest environment for them to live in. In this sense, the judge has the power to take away custody from one parent and award it to the other parent or […]

My Spouse has a Drug Addiction, What Now?   Recently updated !

This entry was posted in Child Abuse Child Custody Domestic Violence Marriage Parenting on by
single parent
All parties involved in a divorce will have to make major adjustments. While the children will most likely be considered as the victims, the most challenging role belongs to the newly single parent who gains primary custody. Gaining custody is a major victory for the parent, but he/she must also be prepared for the challenges ahead.  The newly-single parent will not only have to face parenthood alone, but he/she will also have to start the recovery process for the child. However, a new beginning still brings hope and these tips can help them survive.  Watch Out for Loneliness There will always be reminders and memoirs of happier times when the family was whole. These memories will always remain dear in the hearts of both parent and child, and that’s how it should be. However, it can make you feel empty and lonely.  The only way to avoid loneliness is to make new memories. The biggest blessing is to have your child. Neither of you are alone and this is the time to draw strength from each other. Engage in new hobbies, go on vacations to new places together and you will be able to add a new chapter to your story, even without the other spouse. Get Rid of Guilt There will always be a sense of guilt for both parents, as it takes two to tango. Even if the other spouse was the one who cheated, the refusal to forgive or give another chance may arise in lingering questions for the wronged spouse.  This is where the support group comes in. Friends, family, church or officemates could help place the situation in the right perspective. The task for them is to encourage the single parent to look forward and leave the regrets behind. Plan Your Future with New Hope […]

Survival Guide for Newly Divorced Single Parents   Recently updated !

This entry was posted in Child Custody Divorce Parenting on by
family pet
Pets are adorable, sometimes it’s hard to say no to buying (or adopting) one for your home. It’s true, they’re good companions and they can your life more fun—complete your family, even. But you have to ask yourself and your partner: “Are we ready to take care of it?” There are several things you have to consider before adding a fur baby to your family. So, before you give in to those puppy dog eyes, you have to take some things into consideration first. The responsibilities Just like children, pets need constant care and attention. They also need to be potty-trained, bathed, and taken to the vet for shots. It sounds like a lot of work, but that’s the reality of it. You have to put the time and effort, especially if they’re really young puppies or kittens that still need to be bottle-fed. It’s going to be tiring and they might disturb you in more ways than one. But if you do it right, it’s going to be worth it because they’ll stay with your family as long as they will live. The kids You may be thinking that being in a family will make it easier to take care of a pet since there’s more than one person helping out. But what if your kids aren’t able to do this task? They may either be too young to even hold a pet (more on this later), or just don’t understand their responsibility yet. A child who’s old enough to understand what’s right and wrong can be taught how to handle your family pet. Make sure to show them how to be gentle—no reckless actions during playtime or anything like that—as well as the basics like putting food in the bowl and walking them to the park. Not only […]

Is Your Family Ready For a Pet?

This entry was posted in Parenting on by
father1633655 1280 1
Shared Parenting after a Divorce is the Healthiest Option Divorce is difficult for anyone and everyone involved in the process. Even if the divorce is amicable, that doesn’t make it easy.  Deciding what party gets custody of the children and parenting powers is difficult.  Despite being difficult, it is a decision that needs to be made. In the past, it was tradition to award only one parent parenting powers.  This parent would often be the mothers because it was believed that mothering instinct was powerful and that it was a requirement for anyone growing up.  For the most part, this notion is being dismissed as outdated and inaccurate. A more modern but still outdated approach is to assign visitation hours to a parent, most often the father.  The term visitation implies that the parent is something less than they are.  It also is demoralizing. The best approach to parenting after a divorce is to split the parenting as equally as possible.  While the best approach is to have the parenting split 50/50, the minimal amount that a parent should be with their child(children) is 35%.  This allows for a connection between the parent and the child, it also allows for the both parties to feel appreciated. A split parenting position for divorce isn’t just something that the courts thought would be in the best interest of both parents, it is something that has been studied thoroughly. Over 50 studies have been conducted into shared parenting.  Parents and children from around the world have been studied to determine the optimal parenting situation for children of divorces.   Those kids who stayed with both parents for at least 35% for each parent did far better in life. Both academic and social lives improved, as well as psychological health. No matter who you are […]

Shared Parenting after a Divorce

This entry was posted in Divorce Parenting on by