Take a look at our newsletter this month.
What Matters Most
THE StevensFirm, P.A. Family Law Center
349 E. Main Street, Suite 200, Spartanburg, SC 29302 • www.SCFamilyLaw.com • (864) 598-9172 July 2019
Summer Jobs
As most of you know, we have a lot of kids — like, SIX of them — so, as you can imagine, the subject of summer jobs gets a lot of attention in our household. The oldest child (Tory) has officially left the nest and is (happily for us) employed full time. The youngest is only 9 (and a half!), so his “summer jobs” usually mean a more frequent schedule of chores around the house and helping to care for our family’s four animals. Child labor laws currently prohibit more formal employment. The four in between the oldest and the youngest are all 17 years old or 19 years old (two of each), and the list of their jobs has always been interesting. They’ve worked in food and beverage jobs, babysitting jobs, summer camp counselor jobs, school research positions, valet driver jobs, pet sitting jobs, office runner jobs, and file clerk jobs. This summer, two of the teens are even helping out some elderly neighbors with household jobs and dog- walking, while one of the 17-year-olds has three jobs at last count. Ben and I were certainly raised to use our summers as prime earning times when we could put the long daylight hours to good use and put some money aside for the future. It makes us both so proud that some of that has rubbed off on the children. And, if we do say so ourselves, they’ve made some great choices with their jobs, while Ben and I spent our early summers shoveling chicken poop (Ben’s favorite story to tell when the kids gripe about
their jobs) and filing monotonous medical records in a cramped file room with no windows for eight hours a day (longest summer of my life!). However, I saw the post shown in this article recently that put the words “summer job” in a little different perspective for me. It had been a particularly long week, and I had spent the majority of it listening as various people involved in family court litigation fought with each other over how much time each person would have during the summer break, when this post jumped off a screen at me. Often in our child custody cases, summer break
division is one of those decisions some people make willy-nilly, and some people will fight tooth-and-nail over. So, when I saw this post, it hit me like a ton of bricks — both personally and professionally. Personally, this year is our 10th summer with our youngest child, and our 18th summer with our two remaining high schoolers. Our “18 summers” are already behind us with our three oldest children. Where has the time gone?! This summer it’s our sincere wish that all of our friends, family, and clients (present, former, and potential) make wonderful memories regardless of what stage of life you are in with your children and regardless of whether a separation or divorce has ever touched your life. Our best summer jobs should always be loving our children, our friends, and our families and spending as much time with them as possible while we have them with us. These are the days, folks, and even when they are long, the years are oh-so-short. Happy Summer!
–Jenny Stevens
Reminder About Our Firm’s Communication Policy Our promise to you is that while we are working on your case, we don’t take inbound phone calls, faxes, or emails. Our Senior Partner, Ben Stevens, takes no unscheduled inbound phone calls, as we have found this makes him much more productive and enables him to focus on getting your case resolved faster. You can always call our office at (864) 598-9172 and schedule an in-person or phone appointment with any of our attorneys, usually within 24–48 hours. We believe this approach is much better than the endless game of phone tag played by most businesses today. Email is also an efficient way to communicate with us, but please
be advised that emails are not typically checked more than twice per day. If you need something quickly, don’t email — call our office and speak with one of our assistants, who will be happy to help you. Disclaimer: This publication is intended to educate the general public about family law issues. It is not intended to be legal advice. Every case is different. The information in this newsletter may be freely copied and distributed so long as the newsletter is copied in its entirety and proper credit is attributed to “The Stevens Firm, P.A. — Family Law Center (SCFamilyLaw.com).”
1 (864) 598-9172
New FREE Report Available for Download!
Firm Updates
Our Associate, Mackenzie Ruroede, spent several days in Chicago last month attending the elite American Association of Matrimonial Lawyers National Institute for Family Law Associates. This program, attended by our Managing Partner Jenny R. Stevens and our Senior Associate Jonathan Lounsberry in years past, is a comprehensive training
At The Stevens Firm, we believe in keeping our clients and potential clients up to date on everything they need to know about Family Law in South Carolina. Even if they don’t have an active case in the family court system, families are complicated, and knowledge is power. This month, we’ve
program specifically developed for associates of AAML Fellows. They cover topics like how to deeply analyze tax returns and corporate statements, the basics of business valuation and assessing retirement assets in divorce, and how best to prepare for family court trials and work with experts during a family court case. Our own Senior Partner, and AAML Vice President, Ben Stevens was invited again to teach at the Institute and will be mentoring several attendees from around the nation. Mackenzie was already a brilliant attorney before attending the Institute, but we know it will bring that extra star-quality to all of her cases with all she’s learned from the rock star AAML faculty at this year’s program. Making the Move How to Settle Your Kids Into a New Home Post-Divorce created a brand-new FREE report which is available for download called “6 Mistakes Commonly Made in South Carolina Divorces.”
Visit this site to get your copy today, and feel free to share with your friends or family who may need it: http://bit.ly/6-mistakes-sc-divorce
About 40 million Americans haul their families and belongings to new homes each year, and over 32 million of them make the big move during so-called “Peak Moving Season,” which runs April through September and reaches its most hectic during the summer months. According to census data, a change in marital status is among the top 10 reasons Americans decide to pack their things into U-Hauls and take to the road, and that transition can be rough on kids. If you’re spending the summer taping up boxes and worrying about how to help your children adjust to the challenges of shuttling back and forth between two houses under a joint custody agreement, here are some tips to make your life a bit easier. Give ThemTheir Own Space When what’s happening to the family feels out of their control, it’s important for kids to have a space that they can retreat to and call their own. If it’s not possible to give each child their own bedroom, letting them personalize their portion of a shared room, or even screening it off from their siblings, can help. Double Up Coordinate with your former spouse to make sure your kids have essentials like underwear, toothbrushes, and copies of favorite books/movies at both homes. That way, a packing mishap will be less likely to trigger a full-on meltdown.
Create Portable Reminders Particularly for young kids, it can be stressful to be away from one of their parents, even if they’re spending time with the other. Sending them off with something as simple as a recording of you reading their favorite bedtime story can help immensely. Of course, moving away after a divorce can also trigger its own set of legal challenges, particularly if you’d like to purchase a home abroad. If you’re planning to leave the country with your kids, we can help make the process go smoothly. Get in touch with Senior Partner J. Benjamin Stevens, who handles international family law issues, today by calling (864) 598-9172.
2 www.SCFamilyLaw.com
Watermelon Cucumber Skewers
Local Events What’s Happening in Spartanburg?
Skewers are a Fourth of July favorite, but these are not your classic kebabs. They’re a fresh, light, and fun way to start a barbecue. Oh, and they don’t require any actual cooking.
• 1 medium-sized Ingredients
Secret Ingredients Film Screening When: Thursday, July 25; 5:30–9:30 p.m. Where: Chapman Cultural Center Cost: $10.50
• 1 block feta cheese, cubed • 1 bunch fresh mint leaves • Salt, to taste
watermelon, cubed • 2 cucumbers, cut into 1/4-inch rounds
More Americans than ever are starting to take note of where their food comes from, and Secret Ingredients puts a spotlight on the debate over organics, GMOs, pesticides, and other food system concerns, providing evidence that “food may be one of the biggest drivers of disease.” Enjoy free snacks and local vendors before the screening and a Q&A with an expert panel after. Fusion Fest When: Saturday, July 27; 3–10 p.m. Where: Barnet Park Cost: $6 The theme of the first-ever Fusion Fest is “Femme Takeover,” and Melting Pot Musical Society has invited female artists, musicians, and business owners to participate in the showcase, which it bills as a “celebration of creativity, inclusion, diversity, and the contributions of so many phenomenal women who have influenced and impacted the arts culture and community.” Stop by to listen to, eat with, and learn from some of the most inventive ladies around. Global Gourmet Cooking Camp When: Monday–Friday, July 29–Aug. 2; 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Where: Daniel Morgan Technology Center Cost: $35 Geared for kids ages 9–14, this five-day camp teaches both cultural lessons and cooking skills. Each day, campers will tackle a different region’s cuisine and cook up a delicious lunch. Native American, Asian, African, Mediterranean/European, and Latino traditions will all be represented, and parents are welcome to join their kids for a meal on the last day.
• 1 packet of bamboo skewers Equipment
Directions
1. Assemble skewers by placing one watermelon cube, one cucumber round, one feta cube, and one mint leaf on skewer in that order. Repeat until skewer is full. 2. Lightly season with salt and chill in fridge until right before serving.
take a break
3 (864) 598-9172
THE Stevens Firm, P.A. Family Law Center
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
349 E. Main Street, Suite 200 Spartanburg, SC 29302
PAGE 1 Summer Is Here PAGE 2 Firm Updates Helping Kids Feel at Home in a New House PAGE 3 Watermelon Cucumber Skewers A Local Events Roundup PAGE 4 Make Yourself Heard With ‘Fierce Conversations’
‘Fierce Conversations’
Learn How to Get Your Message Across So often, we talk to our friends, coworkers, and loved ones without actually saying anything. We’ll beat around the bush on important subjects or hesitate to bring up sensitive matters. Global business coach and best-selling author Susan Scott has set out to change that. In her book “Fierce Conversations,” Scott argues that the key to get more out of our personal and professional relationships is to learn to lower our barriers and convey our message honestly. “Fierce Conversations” is one of those works born out of a simple idea with big implications. As the author explains it, “While no single conversation is guaranteed to change the trajectory of a career, a company, a relationship, or a life, any single conversation can.” By having the communication skills necessary to create lasting bonds, handle strong emotions, and overcome barriers, you’ll be prepared when crucial conversations present themselves. Those who tend to judge a book by its cover may make the mistake of associating the word “fierce” with “aggressive.” However, as a master of meaningful communication, Scott has found that it’s important not to force emotions one way or the other. As she observes, “If your behavior contradicts your values, your body knows.” Instead of relying on fake bravado or false modesty, the author argues it’s better that the bravery be
genuine. Breaking down those social barriers to be authentic in our conversations takes true ferocity. Scott does more than simply explain why frank and honest communication is important; she gives readers the tools to get there. Having spent years as a business coach, and now as the head of a firm that trains CEOs around the globe, Scott is well-versed in the art of teaching exercises. “Fierce Conversations” is brimming with action items, tactics, and tailor-made examples of how
to communicate in every situation, from board meetings to parenting. If you’re someone who likes concrete guides over vague concepts, this book will pleasantly surprise you.
4 www.SCFamilyLaw.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker