Todd Perreault from Community Justice Initiatives (CJI) in Kitchener will speak to us about Family Conferencing. Also called Family Group Decision Making, Family Conferencing is a meeting of extended family, friends, and community members with the purpose of developing a plan that meets the safety and protection needs of the children in the family. This is a relatively new initiative in the Region which we believe will have very positive effects for families and the community. The family is empowered and involved in the decision making process for their children. Currently, all families are referred to CJI by the Kinship Program and Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region with funding from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. You can reach Todd Perreault at CJI www.cjiwr.com or 519.744.6549 or his website: www.mediationcentreonline.com
Todd Perreault is an experienced mediator and social worker for the past 17 years. He has successfully facilitated the negotiation of parent-teen conflicts, divorces and separations, child protection matters, and community disputes.
Aired: Sunday, January 24, 2010 || 8 to 9 AM ET on www.CFRU.ca 93.3 FM in Guelph
Line Brunet has a son from a previous marriage and lives with her new husband. Nearly half of North Americans are involved in some step-relationship. Line joins me in talking about the challenges of Step Families.
Having always been fascinated with human behaviour, potential and transformation, becoming a Life Coach was Line Brunet’s calling. Because of her own personal transformation, through family, career and health challenges, helping others do the same has become her passion. Line Brunet is a Certified Life Coach, Master Family Dynamics Coach, Master Spirit Life Coach and a member of the Certified Coaches Alliance as well as, Toastmasters International. A strong advocate for families, she hosts Family Focus on Blog Talk Radio every Thursday, 1 pm ET: www.blogtalkradio.com/familyfocuscoach
Living in a Step Family is a balancing act of grief, new family life, and navigating the maze of mixed feelings, different parenting styles, and the many relationships in your kid’s life. What are some of the do’s and don’ts?
How do you keep relationships with extended family?
Be open. Expect the unexpected. Develop good working relationships, communication skills, and problem solving skills.
I learn so much talking with Sharon Lewis and Julie Wise and I’m sure you’ll love them too. These ladies are both accomplished professional coaches who have first hand experience co-parenting kids after a divorce. 12 years ago, Sharon’s kids were 2 and 5 yrs. 16 years ago, Julie’s kids were 8 and 11 years.
“While moving through a divorce can seem like an insurmountable obstacle, for many parents it is just the beginning of a new and equally intimidating challenge, co-parenting your children. Hats off to all of you who have chosen to remain in your children’s lives as co-parents. It means both of you deeply care about your children and want to continue raising them in the least-disruptive possible manner.” Rosalind Sedacca
Julie Wiseis a life consultant and relationship coach, and the author of her forthcoming book “Dream BIGGER: Reclaiming a Life of Joy and Ease“. She works with individuals, couples, families and workplace teams to build relationships, strengthen communication, and ease transitions. You can reach her at www.juliewiseconsulting.com or 519.894.1330.
Sharon Lewis helps people map out their leadership development as a Leadership Development and Team Effectiveness coach. She works with Managers, Leaders, and HR professionals in Technology, Manufacturing, and Service based businesses to create sustainable high performance, high functioning teams, and powerful corporate coaching programs. You can find her on the web at www.questiam.com.
I respect the courage and focus of parents who seek a secure family after divorce that values respectful communication, cooperation, and understanding. They manage to find a way to focus on taking care of their kids while resolving painful conflicts between the two of them. While many people think that divorce should be a fight to the bitter end, the results of a collaborative divorce are personalized, empowering, supportive, satisfying, and dignified.
Let’s dispel the myths:
MYTH 1 – families are “broken” if they live apart.
MYTH 2 – nobody ever wins
Collaborative Divorce and Separation is:
Efficient: it focuses on interests/needs and a satisfying resolution
Empowering: it creates a secure family environment after divorce. The kids are reassured “I’m always taken care of.” “My parents love me even though they don’t live with each other.” “I can love both my parents.” “My mom will always be my mom. My dad will always be my dad.” Parents develop a personalized plan: Parents know their family best. They identify strengths and resources so they do what works for them.
Effective: couples develop respectful communication skills and co-parenting strategies
Economical: it gets to the heart of the matter with deep empathy and non-judgmental understanding
it is Essentially the beginning of creating a new life for the family: Where are you going from here? What will your family look like? What will your new working relationship look like after the divorce so that your children’s needs can be met as they grow? How will you value and support your needs? What family values are important for each of you and for both of you?
In this show, we look at what it takes to do a collaborative divorce. This is an interview with: a couple who separated within the past year, a mother who has been separated for 3 years, and Wendy McDonnell.
What is a Collaborative Divorce?
1. If you work with lawyers from the beginning, lawyers and clients sign an agreement to work toward settlement and not go to court. Some clients work with divorce coaches, therapists, financial advisors, and/or mediators and bring their parenting plans and separation agreements to a lawyer for approval.
2. Each person hires collaborative support (divorce and career coaches, financial advisors, parenting specialists, therapists, mediators).
3. Everyone agrees on full disclosure of information. Divorce is a problem to solve, not a battle to win.
Julie Wise is a life consultant and relationship coach, and the author of her forthcoming book “Dream BIGGER: Reclaiming a Life of Joy and Ease”. She works with individuals, couples, families and workplace teams to build relationships, strengthen communication, and ease transitions. Julie shares her thoughts about being there for our kids as they grow up and make mistakes, making rules collaboratively, and seeing the family as a team. Contact Julie at: 519.894.1330
Why is listening to our kids so difficult for parents to do sometimes?
When we don’t hold our temper and we’re not as patient as we would like…then what?
In what ways do our teens learn from their mistakes?
What do we do when our kids just want to push our buttons for fun or to feel empowered?
What can you do when you don’t have a trusting relationship and you already have a teenager?
