A phrase that comes to mind often during this current pandemic is, “This too shall pass.” We have watched, at first in denial, then in horror, during these past months, as the world around us has rapidly been changing. We have witnessed our communities begin to buckle as the rate of infection has continued to…
Mark Otto reflects on growing up and his journey to becoming a dad. What does it mean to me to be a father? I think any male can be a father. We see countless men all over the world who carry the title of ‘father’ as there is no prerequisite required to be a one,…
Patrick Johnson shares his journey in becoming a father. In 2004, I was celebrating my 32nd birthday and my first year wedding anniversary. On arriving home from a usual day at work, my wife greeted me at the door and handed me our one-month-old son. I had become very accustomed to this new routine. Go Train home,…
Who defines what it means to be a mother? How does one learn this? How do you know you meet all the criteria? Is there a measuring stick? When I look at the many definitions of what it is to be a mother, these are some words and phrases that pop up: a way of…
To raise a child, while meeting all of her or his social, emotional and intellectual needs is best done with the help of a village. These days, households come in many shapes and sizes, often blended and extended. As family units meld together, change can bring a significant degree of uncertainty for all. It may take…
Holidays can be a stressful time for everyone, especially for children affected by divorce. When you first make the decision to separate, you may find it overwhelming to initially push past feelings of hurt and loss, to create the best custody outcome for your child. Important factors to consider are whether holiday time will be…
Fathers, You Matter! Here at Side by Side Supervised Access Services we believe in providing the best outcomes for parents and their children. With Father’s Day approaching, we would like to highlight the benefits that fathers provide when engaged in a child’s life. Historically speaking, dads or father figures were generally understood to teach toddlers to walk and play catch with limited…
THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF MOTHERHOOD In so many ways, I felt that my life and being, never truly began until I became a mother. As many times as you may be told beforehand, you never realize that there was an enormous abyss in your soul that could only be awakened until you have children.…
I was a perfect parent before I had children. I would watch other parents, in the stores yelling at their child for what appeared to be small indiscretions and would shake my head in silent indignation. What I didn’t see, with my self-righteous attitude, was the 100 times before when the parent lovingly corrected the…
Being a mom today we have the freedom and flexibility to define the mother we want to be. At times, having so much choice can lead to self-judgment, doubt, and guilt of not doing or being enough, especially once we compare ourselves to other mothers. As a mom of young children, here’s what I would…