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Sunday, 30 March, 2008 0:28 AM
Is Work Or A Divorce Keeping
You From Your Child?
Graphic
courtesy of www.more4kids.info
Carrolton, Ga.
–
For parents burdened by a divorce or a heavy workload, it is becoming
increasingly difficult to stay in touch with their children and
each other. Visitation rights might decree that a parent only gets
to see a child every other weekend, or perhaps the parent returns
home from the office so late each night that their kids are already
asleep. Additionally, children themselves are becoming busier and
busier – extra academic studies after school, practice with
the sports team – which further reduces the contact between
parent and child. Whatever the reasons, a communication chasm is
appearing between many parents and their children.
Community advocate and business owner Sheila Butler found that –
like the parents in many of the other 40 million other ‘broken’
families across America – daily communication with her spouse
about their children became next to impossible following her divorce
two years ago.
“There were times when communication with my ex was difficult
at best,” recalls Sheila. “The question I kept asking
myself was ‘How are we both ever going to keep up with what’s
going on in our kids’ lives?’ but there was no solution
available.”
With necessity so often being the mother of invention, this mother
of two set out to find her own solution, and in so doing developed
the ‘Kids in Motion Planner’ (www.kidsinmotionplanner.com)
to help her – and the millions like her – stay in touch
with their current or ex-spouses concerning the kids.
Sheila offers parents the following tips:
- Keep an ongoing involvement
in your children’s lives.
- Try and have a window
of information into your kids’ everyday schedules and developments.
- Keep an open line
of communication, not just between the child and parent, but also
the two parents themselves.
- Give your kids an
added ‘security blanket’ by letting them see that
Mom and Dad are cooperating and interested in their development.
- Enhance the safety
nets – parents must stay in contact regarding important
changes in their child’s life; such as a change in medication.
- Give children a sense
of purpose. Knowing that there are expectations on their parents
as well as themselves gives kids purpose and an increased feeling
of success when objectives were reached.
Since developing the
‘Kids in Motion Planner’ (www.kidsinmotionplanner.com)
Sheila has become even closer with her 9 year old daughter, and
keeps up to date better than ever before with her 20 year old son,
who is constantly traveling with the military.
“From my own experience and from the feedback I’ve received
from others, the ‘Kids in Motion Planner’ has proven
to be a highly successful tool for families,” she says, “and
I mean the whole family – to our knowledge this is the first
time anyone has involved the child in the issue of divorce and shared
custody in a positive manner.”
Although being a divorced or overworked parent is never easy for
a family, a little extra communication between parents and their
children, and with some simple organizational tools, all families
can enjoy closer, more loving, and healthy relationships, no matter
what life throws at them.
About Sheila Butler
Sheila Butler is the founder and developer of the “Kids in
Motion Planner”. She is a divorcee and mother of two, as well
as a busy business owner and active community advocate. She lives
in Georgia and enjoys a healthy relationship with her children.
Sheila Butler’s website can be found at www.kidsinmotionplanner.com.
Source: News and Experts
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