Divorce, with all its emotional and financial upheaval, is frequently wrought with stress, fear, and staggering challenge. In the economic times we now find ourselves in, the stress, fear and challenges are being felt by everyone, not just families touched by divorce. The constant media coverage and an almost universal sense of crisis require that divorcing couples make an unprecedented effort to provide a sense of financial security to their children.

Children today are faced with images of home foreclosures, job layoffs, and unemployment lines and many of them are experiencing increased anxiety. Every parent wants to give their children a sense of security that the home they live in and the lifestyle they are used to will survive change and upheaval. Divorcing parents are tasked with providing that sense of security while surviving change and upheaval. It is a great challenge when parents are living through a highly emotional process. Divorce mediation offers both a reduction in emotional trauma and guidance to help divorcing couples address their children's concerns.

I work with couples every day who express their mutual wish that their children feel safe and secure both during and after the divorce process. Indeed, that is invariably their highest priority. Mediation offers a comprehensive way to achieve this goal. Lowering costs to preserve family resources, allowing parents to keep the lines of communication open and dignified between each party, providing privacy for family issues, planning for equitable settlements, and ensuring custody is decided with the children's best interests in mind are all elements in a mediated divorce. Planning for a family's continued financial security is part of every mediated divorce, and with a sound plan in place, parents can continue to build that sense of security that children need and crave.