Atlanta Divorce Law Group - April 2019

Atlanta Divorce Law Group - April 2019

Rainy Days Are Necessary for Beautiful Flowers THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

April 2019

Perhaps the most famous saying this time of year is “April showers bring May flowers,” a sentiment which originated from the literal process of rainfall helping foliage grow. But its meaning over the years has included a more symbolic interpretation referring to the rewards that can come from life’s many struggles. Everyone has their fair share of rainy days, but most would attest that the saying is true — goodness can certainly blossom from pain. If you’re navigating the abundant changes associated with a recent divorce, you might be struggling to see the sunshine at the end of the tunnel. But the most important piece of advice we can give you is to remember that the hard times you’re going through now exist for a purpose, and that purpose is to achieve a better life. Whether that means you’re getting away from a toxic relationship, creating a more comfortable and inviting living situation for your children, or getting the job you always dreamed of, the immense pain you feel right now is temporary. Eventually, it will go away. While it may not feel that way, there is a worse type of pain: the kind with no purpose. It’s the pain that occurs when people keep themselves stuck in the same bad situation, weighed down by the discontent of an unhealthy relationship. If you continue living in a contentious marriage with the same meaningless approach every day, it can only yield the same unsatisfying results. Constantly seeing the same results — or no results at all — will drastically affect your ability to feel happy. While we understand that it’s scary to consider these things, once you make a decision regarding how you want to live your

life, you see different results. Of course, actually taking steps to get there can be challenging. You have to look at financials in a new light and discuss parenting plans in ways you’ve never had to think about before. You’ll have to approach life as an individual rather than as a couple, which changes everything. But the struggle and stress associated with these rains have a purpose — the flowers that come in May. Even if you know the flowers will eventually grow, sometimes you need to be reminded there’s hope. That’s why our team makes sure we sit down with each of our clients to go over their biggest life priorities, starting with what they’d like to be able to reach within the next year, then making plans for the next 5–10 years. If your dream is to able regain financial security, rebuild your career, or protect your time with your child, we keep this vision in mind so that when the days get really rainy, we can remind our clients of their dreams. We also check in periodically to make sure your priorities haven’t shifted. The most effective way to hold on to hope is to be honest with ourselves, which means that we have to admit or discuss the moments when an initial vision changes. For example, you may be a parent who starts your divorce process by believing that your biggest goal is to obtain 50/50 parenting, but six months later, you’ve decided that you’d rather be able to spend a couple whole months with your child in the summertime. That all comes with being honest with yourself throughout the process. In addition to maintaining focus on your vision, you also need to take the time to commend yourself for all the transitions and growth you’ve endured. Rather than constantly thinking about all that you have yet to achieve, honor yourself for the steps you’ve made. Remember, there once was a time when you thought you couldn’t spend a day on your own, and regardless of where you are on your journey, you’ve made huge steps forward. Keep your vision in mind and congratulate yourself on the progress you’ve made. And if you need any help or encouragement, you know who to call.

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–Sara Khaki

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Books to Engage the Whole Family WORLDS WITHIN PAGES

Learning to read opens up a world of possibilities. When your child walks through the back of the wardrobe into Narnia with Lucy Pevensie or rides with Harry Potter on the train to Hogwarts, they connect to something beyond their own experiences. In the U.S., April 23 is World Book Day, and the date commemorates the deaths of legendary authors Cervantes, Shakespeare, and Garcilaso de la Vega, as well as the birth of author Vladimir Nabokov. World Book Day is the perfect time to sit down with your family and let yourself be transported to new worlds. So, here are three great stories to help you take young readers on brand-new adventures. FOR THE ELEMENTARY READER: ‘SONG OF THE WILD: A FIRST BOOK OF ANIMALS’ “Song of the Wild” makes a great read-aloud book for beginner readers because they can get lost in the beautiful artwork while you read the text. Written in prose and rhyming poems, this book showcases sprawling landscapes — savannahs, jungles, and oceans — and features the wildlife living there. It’s worth a read simply to appreciate the colorful depictions of each animal.

This book was written by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Petr Horácek.

FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOLER: ‘THE NIGHT DIARY’

12-year-old Nisha navigates her world after the partition of India creates the new country of Pakistan and her family is forced to leave their home. Her mother may be gone, but Nisha finds solace in writing nightly letters to her in her diary as she discovers what the future holds. Based on author Veera Hiranandani’s memories of her own family, this moving tale lets readers experience life through someone else’s eyes. While some might not think of comics as proper reading, Penelope Bagieu’s graphic novel forces reconsideration. Her clever, colorful artwork and engaging narrative take the reader through the biographies of 30 women, from Bette Davis and Mae Jemison to lesser-known but equally intriguing ladies like Giorgina Reid. All in all, this book provides a great way to get kids excited about history in an entertaining form. FOR TEENS: ‘BRAZEN: REBEL LADIES WHO ROCKED THE WORLD’

HOW TO HELP YOUR KIDS PREPARE FOR ...

the Upcoming Teacher Appreciation Week!

KNOW YOUR EXPECTATIONS

LOOK FOR FEEDBACK

Teachers provide students with so much: a helping hand, a welcoming presence, and a boost of confidence when times get especially tough. To prepare for the upcoming Teacher Appreciation Week, and in order to show gratitude to our educators for all the hard work they do in and out of the classroom, our team here at Atlanta Divorce Law Group wanted to offer some tips to help empower both you and your kids to appreciate their teachers all year long. Both teachers and parents should take the time for phone calls and emails with one another to provide information, encouragement, advice, and direction. Even though we’re all busy, communication is essential, and these updates could save time and prevent potential issues in the long run. COMMUNICATE REGULARLY

Knowing the academic standards for your child will help explain what is expected of him or her for a particular school year. Setting aside the time to understand some of the concepts that your child is learning will help your child’s teacher immensely in the classroom. It will also be important for you in supporting your child at home when they ask for some help with their homework. Teachers can provide parents with research- based strategies to help students with their learning in the classroom. Don’t be afraid to set up a time to meet with your child’s teacher to review these strategies so you can better help your student at home. Open houses or parent/ teacher conferences also provide a great opportunity to bring up these questions. DON’T BE AFRAID TO DISCUSS STRATEGIES

If teachers provide consistent feedback to parents through newsletters, websites, online homework portals, and social media accounts, really take to heart what they say. Teachers are trained to support your child in their learning, but they can’t do it alone. They need your attention as well! If you’re looking for other ideas regarding how you and your kid(s) can take some time to honor their instructors, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We can help brainstorm or offer resources!

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PARIS ON A BUDGET?

3 Travel Myths You Should Stop Believing

Traveling has many social and educational benefits, but some people have hesitations that prevent them from jetting off on new adventures. Below are three debunked travel myths to give you some ease as you plan your summer vacation!

research by reading travel blogs, websites, and books to find places that have been vetted by others. Traveling in groups can also be a great way to lower your risk of danger. As long as you plan ahead, you will have a safe trip.

MYTH: VACATIONS ARE EXPENSIVE.

MYTH: JET LAG IS CAUSED BY A LACK OF SLEEP.

FACT: You can travel anywhere on a budget. Tracking flights to score the best deal, setting spending limits, and packing meals are a few ways to save money. Hostels and Airbnbs are great alternatives to spendy hotel stays. Additionally, you don’t have to cross the country to have a great trip. Every state has museums, unique roadside attractions, historical sites, and a booming nightlife. When you know your price limits and what you want to do, traveling can be a fun and inexpensive venture.

FACT: While jet lag can make you sleepy, it’s actually caused by a disruption in your circadian rhythm. Our bodies are cyclical, and the circadian rhythm is set by both a natural need for your body to reset and outside forces, such as your job, time zone, and diet. Travel can disrupt this rhythm and routine, which leaves you lethargic during and after your vacation. Sticking to water before and during your flights and staying physically active during and after traveling are great ways to fight jet lag and get back into your normal rhythm. Don’t let these travel myths keep you from seeing the world. Set a budget, go with your gut, and prepare for a shifting rhythm to make your next adventure the best one yet.

MYTH: TRAVELING IS DANGEROUS.

FACT: If you’re smart about what you do and where you go, traveling can be safe. Go with your gut and only stay somewhere that is approved by travel guides. Visit places you feel comfortable in, and do your

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT OUR Concierge Partners?

“I was so grateful to have this legal representation during my particularly difficult divorce process. As someone who had never been through this, I did not realize how invaluable their advice and guidance would be until we got to court. If I had listened to my own advice and that of close friends, I would have made my situation much worse. The ADLG team guided and advised me on a near-daily basis. They were understanding through the process, but more importantly, they knew how to be firm when situations required it. Simply put, this is the team to represent you if you are concerned that your divorce might be especially complex.” WHAT OUR Clients Are Saying!

Our dedication doesn’t end when a client’s legal matter is complete. We will be there for you as you begin your new life. For this reason, we’ve compiled a list of true partners we have built relationships with and trust to provide our clients with great services at fair prices. This month, we would like to highlight one of our fantastic partners, Rene at Total Life Care Counseling. Rene serves as a marriage and

family therapist, specializing in trauma recovery. He works with clients systemically to move through the emotions and history of past trauma or fragments of trauma to overcome repetitive patterns, addictions, feelings, or their absence.

If you want to work with a great counselor, we encourage you to reach out to Rene at [email protected] or call him at 404-671-9226.

–Robert S.

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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Inside This Issue

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Rainy Days Are Necessary for Beautiful Flowers

Books to Engage the Whole Family

How Your Kids Can Show Gratitude to Their Teacher

3 Travel Myths Debunked

What Our Clients Are Saying!

‘Big Little Lies’ Coming Soon!

Keep an Eye out for Our Upcoming Blog Series: A Breakdown of HBO’s ‘Big Little Lies’

If you were a fan of the twisty, thrilling, enlightening, and bitingly funny first season of the hit HBO series “Big Little Lies,” then you might be counting down the days until the second season airs in June of this year. The star-studded cast — featuring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz, and Alexander Skarsgård — would have drawn in massive amounts of viewers no matter what, but since there was a top-shelf story along with top-shelf actors, audiences were perched in front of their TVs for seven weeks straight.

The show started out as a miniseries following author Lianne Moriarty’s novel by the same name, and the characters’ gut-wrenching narrative led to the creation of a second season — this one featuring Meryl Streep. Episode writers promise that the show will continue to explore the malignancy of lies, the durability of friendships, the fragility of marriage, and, of course, the vicious ferocity of dysfunctional parenting. In preparation for the release of the second season, our team has opted to do a six-week blog series wherein we will explore the tropes in each episode

of season one. Because this show explores various familial issues, including co-parenting, marital affairs, stepparenting, domestic abuse, and family violence, we thought it would be a promising endeavor to break down each of these topics and explore possible solutions or avenues for healing. If you have not yet started this series, we encourage you to do so in the upcoming weeks. It’s streamable on HBO, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. If you’re already a fan, be sure to keep an eye out for our blog series starting in early May. You can access it on AtlantaDivorceLawGroup.com/blog.

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