This collection of essays by prominent lawyers, theologians, social scientists, policy makers, and activists examines the reasons why the once treasured institution of marriage has been steadily displaced by a culture of divorce and unwed parenthood. Promises to Keep presents the full text of The Council on Families in America's 1995 investigation, Marriage in America: A Report to the Nation, and the contributors provide suggestions for marital resurrection to counteract trends that have created tragic hardships for children, generated poverty within families, and burdened us with insupportable social costs. Sponsored by The Institute for American Values.

A compelling examination of the social and legal experiences of lesbian, bisexual, and queer stepparent families Lesbian, bisexual, and queer families formed after the dissolution of a marriage face a range of obstacles. In Queer Stepfamilies, Katie L. Acosta offers a wealth of insight into their complex experiences as they negotiate parenting among multiple parents and family-building in a world not designed to meet their needs. Drawing on in-depth interviews, Acosta follows the journeys of more than forty families as they navigate a legal and social landscape that fails to recognize their existence. Acosta contextualizes the legal realities of LGBTQ stepparent families and considers the actions these parents take to protect their families in the absence of comprehensive policies or laws geared to meet their needs. Queer Stepfamilies reveals the obstacles these families face in family courts during divorce proceedings and custody cases, and highlights their distrust of courts when it comes to acting in their children's best interests, especially in the event of an origin parent's death. As LGBTQ families continue to make social and legal strides in acceptance and recognition, this important book shows how queer stepparents find ways to make their unconventional families work, despite the many social and legal obstacles they encounter. Acosta provides a fresh perspective, broadening our understanding about families in the twenty-first century.

Adult children are often overlooked and forgotten when their parents divorce later in life, but in these pages they will find comfort and understanding for the many feelings, frustrations, and challenges they face. For more than two decades, a silent revolution has been occurring and creating a seismic shift in the American family and families in other countries. It has been unfolding without much comment, and its effects are being felt across three to four generations: more couples are divorcing later in life. Called the "gray divorce revolution," the cultural phenomenon describes couples who divorce after the age of 50. Overlooked in the issues that affect couples divorcing later in in life are the adult children of divorcing parents. Their voices open this book, and they are the voices of men and women, 18 to 50 years old. Some of them are single; some are married. Some have children of their own. All of them are in different stages of shock, fear, and sudden, dramatic change. In Home Will Never Be the Same: A Guide for Adult Children of Gray Divorce, Carol Hughes and Bruce Fredenburg share their deep understanding gained during the innumerable hours they have spent with these women and men in their clinical practices. The result is a valuable resource for these too often forgotten adult children, many of whom find that, whenever they express their feelings and experiences, the most important people in their lives frequently ignore and dismiss them. As the divorce rate for older adults soars, so too does the number of adult children who are experiencing parental divorce. Yet, these adult children frequently say that they are the only ones who are aware of what they are going through, no one understands what they are experiencing, and they feel painfully alone.

'Unputdownable... A perfect summer holiday read' Reader Review Sparkling sun, strolls in the gorgeous French countryside, that first sip of cool, crisp wine - Summer is Kat's favourite season. And this year should be no exception... 'Fun, emotional and packed with French sunshine. I adored it!' - Sunday Times bestselling author Milly Johnson As soon as Kat Jenson set foot in the idyllic French village of Kirchhoffen, she knew she'd found her home. Now she has a dreamy boyfriend, a delightful dog and the perfect job managing a bustling book cafe in the vibrant Parc Lemmel. But when she learns her boyfriend isn't all he seems, it's the start of a difficult summer for Kat. Vindictive troublemakers, work woes and family heartache follow, and the clear blue sky that was her life suddenly seems full of clouds. Then she gets to know the mysterious Noah, and her sun begins to shine brighter than ever. But Noah has problems of his own - ones that could scupper their new-found happiness. Together, can they overcome their many obstacles, and find love again? The perfect summer read for fans of Trisha Ashley, Sarah Morgan and Carole Matthews. 'A sun-drenched read that's perfect for summer!' Phillipa Ashley 'Sue's writing sparkles like the summer sun.' Sheila O'Flanagan 'Charming, uplifting and utterly delightful - I was totally swept up in this gorgeous book!' Holly Martin Readers LOVE Summer at the French Cafe! 'I was transported to beautiful French villages and an idyllic book cafe I couldn't put it down.' 'Perfect summer escapism...love, laughter, friendship, relationships, gorgeous food and heavenly summer days!' 'A great, uplifting romance!' 'I felt like I was sat reading this in the glorious French sunshine' 'Uplifting and light-hearted...I read it in one sitting.' 'The perfect escapism between the pages of a book.' 'Glorious! Escape from your armchair to the sunny climes of a village in France.'

The straight-talking guide to divorce by a seasoned family lawyer. The No-Nonsense Guide to Divorce is the straight-talking, reassuring book you need now if you find yourself facing divorce. Written by an experienced family law attorney, the book is an often blunt, sometimes funny, always empathetic look at one of the most challenging time in your life. The book begins with a list of rules to help you through the tough parts. They're reliable, time-tested, formulated from the author's 27 years in practice. In a clear, concise, and contemporary voice, author Lori Hellis offers step-by-step, start-to-finish advice on the many phases of divorce. She covers the full spectrum of divorce issues from beginning to end, from how to start and what temporary measures to take to deciding child custody and parenting time, calculating child and spousal support, and dividing property and debts. The book contains essential information for anyone during a divorce and includes specialized chapters for divorcing seniors, gay couples, and military members. It's filled with concrete advice, sample documents, and hilarious and sometimes cringe-worthy examples from the author's years as a practicing divorce attorney. It's the perfect blend of how-to and what-not-to-do.

Michele Weiner Davis goes beyond her marriage-saving bestseller, Divorce Busting, with this empowering and encouraging guide for revitalizing marriage and building stronger, more loving bonds. In a down-to-earth style that is free of psychobabble, Weiner Davis outlines a realistic, solution-oriented seven-step program for managing marital problems, which, when left unchecked, can drain the life out of a relationship. Using revealing anecdotes and in-depth case studies, she illustrates practical ways for marriage partners to

• avoid the "divorce trap"
• identify specific marriage-saving goals
• move beyond ineffective, hurtful ways of interacting
• become an expert on "doing what works"
• overcome infidelity, Internet obsessions, depression, sexual problems, and midlife crises
• get your marriage back on track -- and keep it there

Rescue your marriage with the proven techniques of The Divorce Remedy -- sound, sensible advice from a renowned relationship expert!

""Once upon a time I was perfectly happy--complacent even. But then my world came crashing down and I was suddenly a single mum of two small children, losing sleep over how to pay the bills. The things I learned allowed me to retain my sanity, self-esteem, and sense of humour and to help my children get through the experience. I discovered how to release the traumatic experiences and emotions that were holding me back and find more fun, fulfillment, and balance in my life (not to mention my lovely husband )""
You "can" build a happy new life
Are you a stressed-out single mum, juggling childcare, work and home--and struggling to cope with all the emotional and practical demands on you?
You're not alone "The Single Mum's Survival Guide" is packed with words of inspiration, comfort, wisdom and experience from a host of real-life single mums and expert professionals to make life easier, help you on your way, and put your mind at rest with answers to questions such as:
How do I tell the kids? How do I get over this split and move on? Why is my child behaving like this and what should I do about it? How will I feel when my kids meet his new girlfriend? How do I deal with all the legal stuff? How can I manage on this little money? How can I have more energy when I'm so tired all the time? Is it OK to ask for help--and who can I ask? Can I ever forgive my ex? Can I "really" be single and happy? When is it time to start dating again--and how will I know if he's Mr. Right? Vivienne Smith is a writer, trainer, presenter, and certified "n"""e"uro-linguistic programmin"g (NLP) and hypnosis practitioner. She is also a Regional Director of the Athena Group, an international networking, training and development business community for female executives and entrepreneurs. Her experience as a single mum prompted Vivienne to write a book about the subject. It has been the fulfilment of a long term ambition to turn what was at the time a negative and distressing experience into an opportunity to help others get through similar challenges. Now happily remarried, she lives with her husband and two sons in beautiful West Sussex, on the south coast of England.

Your ex-spouse is bad mouthing you to your children, constantly portraying you in a negative light, perhaps even trying to turn them against you. If you handle the situation ineffectively, your relationship with your children could suffer. You could lose their respect, lose their affections-even, in extreme cases, lose all contact with them. The conventional advice is to do nothing, that fighting fire with fire will only result in greater injury to the children. But after years of consulting parents who heeded such advice with no success, Dr. Richard Warshak is convinced that this approach is wrong. It doesn't work, and parents are left feeling helpless and hopeless. DIVORCE POISON instead offers a blueprint for effective response. In it, you will learn how to distinguish different types of criticism, how and why parents manipulate their children, how to detect these maneuvers, and how these practices damage children. Most importantly, you'll discover powerful strategies to preserve and rebuild loving relationships with your children.

DIVORCE POISON is a time-tested work that gives parents powerful strategies to preserve and rebuild loving relationships with their children-and provides practical advice from legal and mental-health professionals to help their clients and safeguard the welfare of children. Whether they are perpetrators of divorce poison, victims of it, or both, parents who heed Dr. Warshak's advice will enable their children to maintain love and respect for their parents-even if their parents no longer love and respect each other.

With over half of marriages ending in divorce, there are nearly one million American men every year who are being introduced back into the dating world. This text is a survival guide aimed at the women who love the men who are in the process of divorce.

Examine a wide variety of divorce therapy approaches with this seminal book. Divorce Therapy is one of the first books to present a comprehensive approach to divorce therapy. Based on a foundation of theory and research about divorce, this landmark volume focuses on the help that psychotherapists can provide during the three stages of divorce--pre-divorce decision making, divorce restructuring, and post-divorce recovery. A distinguished array of researchers and clinicians address discuss mediation, criteria for a constructive divorce, remarriage, custody issues, and much more.

In this ground-breaking book, Michele Weiner-Davis gives straightforward, effective advice on how couples can stay together instead of come apart.

Using case histories to illustrate her marriage-enriching, divorce-preventing techniques, which can be used even if only one partner participates, Weiner-Davis shows readers:

* How to leave the past behind and set attainable goals
* Strategies for identifying problem-solving behavior that works -- and how to make changes last
* "Uncommon-sense" methods for breaking unproductive patterns

Inspirational and accessible, Divorce Busting shows readers in pain that working it out is better than getting out.

The Bible-based insights included in this revised and updated edition will give you the practical tools you need to recover from the trauma of divorce and complete the journey toward wholeness after the painful breakup of a marriage. Questions, self-tests, excercises, and practical information will enable you to: Find the right lawyer and settle your divorce as fairly and as quickly as possibleDecide whether mediation is right for youRegain self-esteem and faith in GodMove beyond betterness and anger into forgiveness and spiritual freedomNegotiate successfully your reentry into single lifeDeal with tough financial issues that inevitably arise

Filled with hard-hitting information, The Fresh Start Divorce Recovery Workbook allows you to personalize each concept and focus on specific areas you need help with as you face the challenges of divorce or separation.

Builds on psychological narratives and focuses on several main themes, including feelings of insecurity and failure, body issues, negative personality traits and alienation, giving the reader an understanding of the variety of ways in which absent and inadequate fathers affect their daughters. Includes clinical material from the author's own work as well as that of psychoanalysts such as Andre Green ensuring that the book is grounded in both interdisciplinary theory and practice. Schwartz also discusses the poetry of Sylvia Plath, fairytales, and Jung's silence about his own daughters highlighting literary parallels to psychology and elucidating Jungian concepts.

Take coparenting to the next level and provide a stable environment for your children as you and your spouse begin tackling your separation or divorce. For parents who are separating and want to put their children first, birdnesting could be the interim custody solution you've been looking for. Instead of the children splitting their time being shuttled between mom and dad's separate homes, birdnesting allows the children to stay in the "nest" and instead, requires mom and dad to swap, allowing each parent to stay elsewhere when not with the children. Initially popularized by celebrities, this method of coparenting is now becoming more mainstream as a way to help ease children into a new family dynamic. Birdnesting takes work and commitment but with Dr. Ann Gold Buscho's guidance, you'll learn everything you need to know about this revolutionary method. In The Parent's Guide to Birdnesting, you will discover the pros and cons, the financial and interpersonal considerations, and if it's the right decision for you and your family.

Acclaim for Painful Partings . . .
"A rare triple threat book--for professionals, students, and laypersons. Sensitive--wise--comprehensive, Schwartz and Kaslow's work represents a maturing of a realistic stance toward divorce." --William C. Nichols, EdD, ABPP Atlanta, Georgia
"This articulate, compassionate, and informed book is essential reading for all therapists who work with divorced or divorcing families. Scholarly, yet readable, its developmental framework gives coherence to an often confusing area of practice." --Augustus Y. Napier, PhD Director, The Family Workshop, Atlanta, Georgia
" Painful Partings] masters both the legal and mental health issues of divorce." --Judge Joseph L. Steinberg Superior Court, State of Connecticut, Regional Family Trial Docket
"Obtaining a legal divorce may seem fairly straightforward. Emotional divorce, on the other hand, is a much more complicated process. In this book, the reader is taken step by painful step into the process of helping couples become emotionally divorced." --Luciano L'Abate, PhDProfessor Emeritus, Georgia State University
"This book achieves a remarkable result in explaining sophisticated family-system concepts . . . into practical clinical suggestions." --Barry Bricklin, PhD Wayne, Pennsylvania.
"This book is a must for professionals, but is also important for those who are contemplating or in the process of divorcing." --Hon. Walter M. Schackman, JSC Supreme Court of the State of New York
"Must reading for clinicians and professionals working with and teaching about divorce and for those going through the process." --Clifford J. Sager, MD Director of Marital and Family Services, Payne Whitney Clinic
"The journey toward divorce] seems analogous to a prolonged roller coaster ride--at the beginning, climbing up and out is laborious and slow, followed by brief periods of respite and relief at the apex, and then a rapid descent into what may seem like a bottomless pit of pain and despair. As the months pass by, the ride becomes less turbulent as the highs and lows become less extreme, and ultimately, the travelers alight from the tempestuous ride, and establish a stable postdivorce existence." --from the Preface
For those who have made the difficult decision to end their marriage, emotional divorce can be as difficult to achieve as legal divorce. This timely and compassionate book shows couples, their families, and their therapists how best to navigate the bumpy terrain of the road to divorce.
In their 1987 classic, The Dynamics of Divorce, family-systems experts Lita Linzer Schwartz and Florence W. Kaslow offered a provocative analysis of how life-cycle stages impact the decision to divorce, and how divorce affects individual development. In this groundbreaking new volume, the authors look at changing life-cycle trends in divorce and explore a host of new economic, cultural, and social issues confronting a highly mobile generation of divorced spouses and parents.
The book covers emerging alternatives to litigation--like mediation, and looks at sensitive legal matters, such as physical and emotional abuse and child custody. It also examines timely issues like fathers' rights, mid-life divorce, and what happens when one partner exits a marriage in order to lead a homosexual lifestyle.
Painful Partings shows marriage and family therapists how to help clients marshal their energies toward constructive closure, rather than destructive resolution. For example, there is a full chapter on the religious aspects of divorce, including conducting a Ritual of Release--a departure ceremony paralleling the original marriage. Essential reading for therapists who work with divorced and divorcing families, the book is also a compassionate guide for spouses and parents negotiating the painful process of divorce.

Could the end of your marriage be the first step toward reclaiming your personal power and joyfully living the life of your dreams? If the answer is yes, this book is for you.

Divorce rocks the very foundation of our beings, leaving us feeling lonely, flawed, enraged, undesirable, hopeless, and empty. In Spiritual Divorce, New York Times bestselling author Debbie Ford reveals how this devastation can be transformed into a profoundly enlightening experience. This empowering guide shows how the collapse of a marriage is, at root, a spiritual wake-up call, an opportunity to liberate ourselves and reclaim our lives. The end of a relationship&#8212no matter who ends it&#8212is a damaging moment. Ford offers a clear program for turning ruin into renewal.