Positively Bonnie

Divorced and/or Remarried? Mediation Can Help You

Tuesday, September 27, 2011
When I was going through a divorce over a decade ago, I associated the word "mediation" with "giving in." And, in no way was that going to happen! In my view, I had been wronged, and things weren't going to be even. I was in such a different mindset then, and just the thought of my sitting on the living room floor, jousting, and divvying up our joint collection of CDs and "...one stuffed Pikachu for your house, and I get the stuffed Barney for mine" is horrifying. Whether you are divorcing or remarried, tune in to my next RemarriageWorks show (the Stepmom's Toolbox) on 10/3 to learn how professional mediation can help you.

On 10/3 at 8 p.m. EST, on our new RemarriageWorks.com BlogTalkRadio show, our topic will be "Mediation Can Help You in Divorce and Remarriage." Join me as I interview guests Jim Pope, M.S.W., J.D. and Ann L. Warshauer of the non-profit organization, Northern Virginia Mediation Service. As professional mediators, they will address: the ABC's of mediation, not only divorce mediation, but how mediation can help you in your remarriage and stepfamily life.

Are you facing a sticky or downright high conflict situation with an ex? Are you frustrated with shared joint custody problems? Are you absolutely stressed from child support, or lack thereof? Do you need a co-parenting plan? Does your child still want to see her step-grandparents after your ex has divorced again?

Thanks to our show's sponsor, IDEALS of Kentucky, tune in to our show on 10/3 at 8 p.m. EST, and hear the facts about mediation, and how it can help you in your divorce and remarriage. We'll even discuss if and when it doesn't work. I am sure it is a much healthier process to explore than tugging on Barney's arm or even worse. Very sad, but true in so many cases. 

Remember National Stepfamily Day is September 16th!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011
This past weekend was pretty tough for many people as our country remembered the events of 9/11 and honored so many heroes and heroines. May we never forget. It was an even tougher day for me personally because my father died suddenly at the age of 54 on the same date 16 years ago. I am certain there were many moist eyes, including mine. When I woke up Monday morning and saw the sun shining for the first time in several days, I tried to think about some good things coming up this week. National Stepfamily Day, celebrated on September 16th is one of those things.

National Stepfamily Day and the National Stepfamily Day Foundation were founded by Christy Borgeld, who has worked tirelessly for 15 years to raise awareness about stepfamily issues, and develop programs, research, and support to American stepfamilies. If you ever get the opportunity to connect with Christy, just do it!

This astounding woman, who received an Outstanding Service Award from the Women's Information Network this year has a contagious passion to help step and blended families. Don't miss her video featuring 101 things to do with your family on National Stepfamily Day.

Lately, there has been some debate about whether stepfamilies need or should have a special day, such as National Stepfamily Day dedicated to them. I agree that a stepfamily is a family. And, while as much I may want or have wanted my stepfamily to not be different from a family that was formed by a first marriage with everyone biologically connected, in some ways it just simply is. It is a family no less, as we know that families come in many varieties these days.

My feelings about whether my stepfamily is different from any other family have shifted over the years. At first, I was hell-bent that my new stepfamily wasn't going to be treated as different. We were all going to learn to love each other and get along no matter what. Now I realize that hell, sometimes there are parts of my biological family, 40+ years old in which I grew up that still don't always get along, and I frankly wonder at times where some of the love is.

Here's the bottom line as I see it today. The majority of stepfamilies that I have come across face unique challenges and circumstances. They are families. And, one of the reasons I support National Stepfamily Day is that I know first-hand how difficult it can be to have a successful remarriage and stepfamily. Building a successful, lasting stepfamily requires hard work, dedication, self-growth, time, dedication, patience, love, and more. I'm celebrating what we have built thus far. I hope you do, too.

The Garter Brides Respond to You, RemarriageWorks Readers

Tuesday, September 06, 2011
I recently announced in this blog that The Garter Brides, authors of Love for Grown-Ups: The Garter Brides' Guide to Marrying for Life When You've Already Got a Life wanted to answer questions that you may have, especially if you are thinking about getting remarried after divorce or widowhood.  Here is what these three fabulous ladies, Ann Blumenthal Jacobs, Patricia Ryan Lampl, and Tish Rabe had to say.

Check out this video to hear what The Garter Brides had to say in response to your questions! 


RemarriageWorks Launches New Monthly Radio Show for "Remarrieds" and Stepfamilies

Friday, September 02, 2011
I invite you to tune in on Monday, September 5, 8-9 p.m. EST as I launch my new RemarriageWorks monthly show on The Stepmom's Toolbox segment of BlogTalkRadio. Keeping with our mission of helping remarriages and stepfamilies succeed, the RemarriageWorks show, airing every first Monday of the month at 8 p.m. EST will cover topics that will help you on your remarriage journey - whether you are divorced and widowed and thinking about getting remarried, planning your second wedding, or living in a stepfamily.

My first topic will be "Remarriage Works: A Second Look at Mortgages, Credit, and Finances" with special guest Carl Delmont, CEO of Freedmont Mortgage, and Board Member of the MD Council on Economic Education and MD Coalition for Financial Literacy. Carl, the first certified divorce planner in MD, is also a weekly expert on WMAR ABC TV in Baltimore. 

Do you worry about blending your credit histories or finances? Are you remarried and thinking about buying a new home? Do you understand how buying a home in your second marriage is different from your first-time purchase? Do you know how child support and alimony are treated when applying for a mortgage?

If you are pre or post divorce and/or remarried, or somewhere in between, don't miss this dynamic guest!

And, last, but not least, we are proud to announce our radio show sponsor, IDEALS of Kentucky. Their mission is to teach people methods of communicating with others, of dealing with emotions, and of solving problems. I don't think there is a remarriage in the world that wouldn't benefit from that!

If you have a topic, you would like to hear about, .


Recent Posts

  • A Great Bonus for Stepparents Who Want to Change Their Mindset!
  • Tonight's Show: A Stepmom's Prerogative, Changing Her Mindset
  • RemarriageWorks Show on Dec. 5: "The Bitter Realities of Family Court"
  • Here Comes Support for the Remarrying Bride
  • For Single Parents: Overcoming the Challenges of Dating After Divorce
  • It Isn't Too Late to Hear "Mediation Can Help in Divorce & Remarriage"
  • Divorced and/or Remarried? Mediation Can Help You
  • Remember National Stepfamily Day is September 16th!
  • The Garter Brides Respond to You, RemarriageWorks Readers
  • RemarriageWorks Launches New Monthly Radio Show for "Remarrieds" and Stepfamilies

Tags

wedding invitation stepfamilies with special needs kids divorce custody after divorce wedding invitation wording stepfamily relationships stepchildren stepfamilies stepfamily counseling widowed exes stepson's stepbrother co-parenting plan stepkids stepfamily challenges stepmom wedding invite remarriage blended family second wedding invitations remarried with kids carla david design freedmont mortgage second wedding planning divorce mediation Garter Brides Kim Olver stepfamily with a special needs child family law attorney brady bunch carl delmont wedding invitations encore brides blended families stepdads marriage encore bridal dress stepdad stepmothers therapist love for grown-ups encore bridal specialist stepmoms stepdaughter Northern Virginia Mediation Service remarry step-grandparents Father's Day marrying stepfamily life remarriage journey the garter brides IDEALS of Kentucky Journal for Stepmoms weddings and children stepfathers stepfamily experience judge's verdict mediation shared joint custody family court DIY wedding invitations second wedding post divorce custody battle remarrying brides children journaling second marriages mediators stepparents stepchild remarrying national stepfamily summit stepfamily meeting stepfamily names national stepfamily day foundation stepson stepparenting second honeymoon remarriages stepmother separation National Stepfamily Day stepfamily terms family law court second marriage family law judge stepfamily coach alimony blending families Stepmom's Toolbox Yaffa Balsam stepparent second weddings para-kin.com child support stepfamily counselor merging two families family matters stepmom's co-parenting familymoon encore wedding joint custody divorcing christy borgeld stepmotherhood ex marry professional mediation blending your credit histories stepfamily issues custody lawyer RemarriageWorks stepfamily father rights remarrying bride separated widowhood remarriage works stepsons stepmoms-to-be relationship questions remarried Justice Harvey Brownstone step-grandma stepfamily support group divorced financial problems wedding invite wording blending
  • after divorce (1)
  • alimony (1)
  • blended families (1)
  • blended family (6)
  • blending families (2)
  • blending your credit histories (1)
  • brady bunch (1)
  • carl delmont (1)
  • carla david design (1)
  • child support (2)
  • children (1)
  • christy borgeld (2)
  • co-parenting (2)
  • co-parenting plan (1)
  • custody (1)
  • custody battle (1)
  • custody lawyer (1)
  • divorce (8)
  • divorce mediation (1)
  • divorced (4)
  • divorcing (2)
  • DIY wedding invitations (1)
  • encore bridal dress (1)
  • encore bridal specialist (1)
  • encore brides (1)
  • encore wedding (1)
  • ex (2)
  • exes (1)
  • family court (1)
  • family law attorney (3)
  • family law court (1)
  • family law judge (1)
  • family matters (1)
  • familymoon (1)
  • father rights (1)
  • Father's Day (1)
  • financial problems (1)
  • freedmont mortgage (1)
  • Garter Brides (1)
  • IDEALS of Kentucky (2)
  • joint custody (6)
  • Journal for Stepmoms (2)
  • journaling (2)
  • judge's verdict (1)
  • Justice Harvey Brownstone (1)
  • Kim Olver (1)
  • love for grown-ups (1)
  • marriage (3)
  • marry (1)
  • marrying (1)
  • mediation (2)
  • mediators (1)
  • merging two families (1)
  • National Stepfamily Day (4)
  • national stepfamily day foundation (1)
  • national stepfamily summit (2)
  • Northern Virginia Mediation Service (2)
  • para-kin.com (1)
  • post divorce (1)
  • professional mediation (1)
  • relationship questions (1)
  • remarriage (19)
  • remarriage journey (3)
  • remarriage works (1)
  • remarriages (3)
  • RemarriageWorks (7)
  • remarried (19)
  • remarried with kids (1)
  • remarry (3)
  • remarrying (5)
  • remarrying bride (1)
  • remarrying brides (2)
  • second honeymoon (1)
  • second marriage (2)
  • second marriages (1)
  • second wedding (6)
  • second wedding invitations (2)
  • second wedding planning (1)
  • second weddings (2)
  • separated (1)
  • separation (1)
  • shared joint custody (1)
  • stepbrother (1)
  • stepchild (1)
  • stepchildren (7)
  • stepdad (1)
  • stepdads (2)
  • stepdaughter (1)
  • stepfamilies (14)
  • stepfamilies with special needs kids (1)
  • stepfamily (27)
  • stepfamily challenges (1)
  • stepfamily coach (1)
  • stepfamily counseling (1)
  • stepfamily counselor (2)
  • stepfamily experience (1)
  • stepfamily issues (1)
  • stepfamily life (2)
  • stepfamily meeting (1)
  • stepfamily names (1)
  • stepfamily relationships (2)
  • stepfamily support group (1)
  • stepfamily terms (1)
  • stepfamily with a special needs child (1)
  • stepfathers (3)
  • step-grandma (1)
  • step-grandparents (2)
  • stepkids (1)
  • stepmom (7)
  • stepmoms (8)
  • stepmom's (2)
  • Stepmom's Toolbox (4)
  • stepmoms-to-be (1)
  • stepmother (3)
  • stepmotherhood (1)
  • stepmothers (7)
  • stepparent (3)
  • stepparenting (3)
  • stepparents (3)
  • stepson (1)
  • stepsons (1)
  • stepson's (1)
  • the garter brides (1)
  • therapist (1)
  • wedding invitation (1)
  • wedding invitation wording (1)
  • wedding invitations (1)
  • wedding invite (1)
  • wedding invite wording blending (1)
  • weddings and children (1)
  • widowed (2)
  • widowhood (2)
  • Yaffa Balsam (1)

Archive

  • January 2012 (2)
  • December 2011 (1)
  • November 2011 (1)
  • October 2011 (2)
  • September 2011 (4)
  • August 2011 (3)
  • July 2011 (3)
  • June 2011 (2)
  • April 2011 (1)
  • March 2011 (1)
  • February 2011 (3)

Tell Us About the Details of Your Second Wedding

1. How much did you spend on your second wedding?

$0 - 1,000
$1,001 - 5,000
$5,001 - 10,000
$10,001 - 20,000
$20,001 or more

 

Here's What You're Saying

“I find your site extremely helpful and resourceful in dealing with the many and daily issues of parenting, co-parenting and life issues that come along.” –J.P.

“I love the information you all provide. The magazine was so helpful in trying to navigate the remarriage with kids territory. Thank you for all of your information and inspiration you provide.” –K.W.

“Have I mentioned HOW MUCH I love your site?!?!? It's really cool. . . . I'm getting married to a man that has two kiddos, and it's quite a lifestyle change for me!” –M.M.

RemarriageWorks Book Giveaway

My Bonus Mom, Taking the Step out of Stepmom shows children who come from divorced families that a positive attitude can lead to a very happy outcome, thereby springing open the hearts and minds of children to accept their own "bonus" moms and dads.


reMarriage Twitter Feed

Step Family Success