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S eptember 2022
N o S uch T hing as T oo M uch L ove
A GRANDPARENT’S ROLE
As an adult, I can see now that I didn’t get to spend much time with my grandparents. They lived in a different state, so they were not a part of my daily life. But despite my more mature and objective understanding of time, they still feel like a big part of my childhood, and I have vivid memories of our time together. Sept. 8 is National Grandparents Day, and those of us blessed with strong relationships with our grandmothers and grandfathers will find plenty to celebrate. But that’s not to say all grandparent and grandchild relationships are the same. Nurturing meant something different to my grandparents than it means to many today; they didn’t shower me with lots of hugs or physical affection. But they made me feel loved in many other ways, and I learned a great deal from them. I nicknamed my grandfather Bobo when I was young. Perhaps feeling left out, my grandmother declared herself Tata, and it stuck. They were hard-working people who grew up in the wheat fields of Kansas during the Great Depression. You got the distinct impression they were children of poverty, but that same demeanor gave me a resource of strength I still rely on to this day. They had a traditional household: My grandfather worked, and my grandmother was a homemaker. But for my grandmother, homemaking was made up of more than standard chores. She was the backbone of our family, and she did everything, including making clothes by hand and preparing a several-course meal every night. For my grandfather’s part, he didn’t graduate high school but went to work in a factory for an aircraft manufacturer. He proved his mettle long enough to become one of their most valued employees. When the company eventually contracted with Lockheed, he helped design the wings for the C-5 and was involved with the Apollo lunar module that landed on the moon. He proved you don’t need a fancy education to be brilliant. But despite all their accomplishments, they were both very unassuming and humble. When I spent time with Bobo, we were always tinkering with something. He’d buy things at Radio Shack for us to build together, including
strobe lights, speakers, and model cars. He showed me how fishing reels and many other things work, along with the mechanics of fixing them. Meanwhile, Tata enjoyed reading to me or sitting down and playing a board game together. My experiences remind me just how critical a grandparent’s role can be in a child’s life. While relationships between parents and grandparents can sometimes become a competition or power struggle, the two should have different yet complementary roles. That’s why, under the right
circumstances, grandparents have the right to petition for visitation rights with their grandchildren in Georgia. Legal action is generally best left as a last resort in these cases, but the law does allow for a remedy when necessary. Children benefit from a diversity of experiences, relationships, and nurturing techniques. They also deserve a bit of occasional spoiling and indulgence only grandparents can provide. At their best, grandparents make their grandkids feel special, safe, and loved. I’m grateful I got all that and more from Tata and Bobo. –Michael Manely
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T angled U p in C ords ? 3 TIPS TO MAINTAIN YOUR ELECTRONICS Technology was created to make our lives easier, and though it simplifies our daily routines, it can be a hassle to maintain — especially if there are cords involved. Keeping the power flowing to multiple devices requires a plethora of cords that can get tangled and annoying. Also, as time goes by, cords may break or simply stop working. Organizing and preserving the quality of your electronics is the best way to extend their longevity, and with these tips, you can save a few headaches along with some money.
Tidy up your cords.
When you have tons of cords and cables attached to your desk and power strips, they can become a tangled mess. You end up pulling the wrong cord because they all look the same, and it’s a pain to figure out which is which. A great way to fix this is to use binder clips! You can clip them onto your desk to keep cords separate and in one place. Take it up a notch by using colored/patterned binder clips. Assigning specific colors to certain cords lets you find the one you need at any moment.
cord close to the connectors on both sides! The tape acts as a brace and keeps your charger cord sturdy.
Organize extra cables and cords.
If you’re like most people, you probably have a bag or box of tangled wires and cables somewhere. It can become an organizer’s worst nightmare, but there’s a better way. First, find an old shoe box and several empty toilet paper rolls. Then, place the rolls upright in a shoebox, wrap each cord up separately, and place them inside the rolls (one per roll) to keep them separate but together. Maintaining our electronics, especially the cords, allows our technology to continue working for us without worry or breaking the bank. Try these hacks and watch how untangled your cords and life can be!
Protect your cords.
Smartphone and laptop chargers aren’t cheap by any means. Since we use them so often, the cord that attaches to the device is susceptible to fraying and breaking. If you have some painter’s tape lying around, take a small piece and wrap it around the
A nother D ay in P aradise MEET RENEE RICHARDSON!
When she was growing up on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, Renee Richardson showed early signs of a lawyer’s disposition. “I’m the youngest, but I’m also the most vocal and outspoken,” she says. “People would come to me to read their documents and advocate for them. I always knew how to speak up and address situations.” Renee began volunteering for a law firm in high school and was eventually promoted to intern and then a paralegal. “I was trying to decide between going into psychology, law, or forensics,” she remembers. “But family law has allowed me to merge those interests.” She passed the bar in October 2021 and began with The Manely Firm in December. But family law didn’t immediately pique Renee’s interest. “When I went to law school, I said I wanted to do anything but family law because it’s so intense and emotionally driven,” she laughs. “But I eventually realized that was the area that would most allow me to connect with my clients. I feel like they’re my family members, which is the whole reason I became an attorney.” “I take their problems personally,” Renee says of her clients. “I see their goals and aspirations, and
I’m able to help them fight for a good cause. I love connecting and engaging with them and seeing the effects I can have.” Her colleagues at The Manely Firm are like family, too, she says, and she appreciates their mentorship. “Being around all the more experienced attorneys has allowed me to progress as a lawyer much more than if I’d tried a sole practice,” she says. Renee considers herself to have three homes: the Virgin Islands, Atlanta, and Spain, where she studied abroad during her undergraduate years. “I enjoy exploring other cultures, especially Spanish- speaking cultures,” she says. So, the international focus of The Manely Firm is another reason Renee enjoys her job. She is also grateful to have been raised in “America’s Paradise,” the Virgin Islands. “It’s a melting pot,” Renee says. “St. Thomas island is only 32 square miles, but there are so many cultures on one island. It reminds me a lot of Atlanta,” where her family joined her a few years ago. “I’m very family-oriented,” Renee says. “My entire personality traces back to that. And family law allows me to create a work-life balance where I can help people and create time for my own family.”
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“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” — M alala Y ousafzai
No Right to Privacy Affects Us All MICHAEL MANELY DISCUSSES THE DOBBS DECISION
G oulash , H ungary ’ s N ational D ish
On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade in deciding Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization . Women in this country no longer have the right to receive a legal abortion, and states can legalize or criminalize the medical procedure at their discretion. No matter your opinion on the ruling — and I think it is deeply wrong — you might ask what the right to an abortion has to do with family law. The answer is: a lot more than you might think. Both the intended and unintended consequences of this decision will be vast. For a start, women will die due to deadly pregnancies that cannot be ended and unsafe, illegal abortions. But by overturning Roe v. Wade , the Supreme Court has effectively ruled that the Constitution does not contain a right to privacy. That affects everyone, whether they want an abortion or not. In his concurring opinion on Dobbs , Justice Clarence Thomas referenced other cases he thought deserved a similar fate to Roe , including those that ruled laws against same-sex marriage, same-sex intimacy, and contraception unconstitutional. He did not mention the ruling that declared interracial marriage legal, but there’s no reason to think it could not also be overruled using the same logic. While these rights are not yet lost, I and many others worry it’s only a matter of time. So, we need to start preparing. What will happen to kids with same-sex parents if their marriage is deemed illegitimate? Or, worse, if the parent(s) who does not have a biological link to the child is declared not a “real” parent? Attorneys need to start talking about solutions for these problems now. It’s also time we all stand up and notice what is happening around us. We are entering a much more totalitarian climate in this nation than any of us have ever lived through, and we should not go quietly into the night or accept a draconian state. We need a plan, and we need to understand what we’re up against. Protestors hold signs while dressed in costumes from “The Handmaid’s Tale,” as if to say, “This is where we’re headed — isn’t it terrible?” But the world depicted in “The Handmaid’s Tale” is exactly what many people want. They find our more progressive and accepting world frightening and want to do away with it. Those who believe in the right to privacy must recognize that now. Otherwise, we’ll never find a way to effectively fight back.
Inspired by Delish.com
I ngredients
• • • • • • •
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 yellow onion, chopped 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• • • • •
1 15-oz can tomato sauce 1 15-oz can diced tomatoes
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1lb ground beef
1 tsp paprika
Salt and pepper, to taste 1 tbsp tomato paste 1 1/4 cups beef broth
1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
• •
D irections 1. In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and wait for it to heat. 2. Once heated, add onion and cook for 5 minutes, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute. 3. Next, add the ground beef to the skillet, and cook until no longer pink. Drain the grease, then add salt and pepper. 4. Stir in the tomato paste, beef broth, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes. Season with Italian seasoning and paprika. Add macaroni to the skillet. 5. Bring mixture to a simmer and let it cook for 15 minutes. Stir the pasta occasionally. 6. Mix in the cheese and remove the heat.
–Michael Manely
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211 Roswell St. NE Marietta, GA 30060 (866) 687-8561 www.allfamilylaw.com
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Michael Celebrates National Grandparents Day
Don’t Cross Your Cords! Meet Attorney Renee Richardson
Losing Our Right to Privacy Goulash, Hungary’s National Dish
Fun Facts About France’s 5-Year-Old King
T his M onth in H istory : A 5-Y ear -O ld B ecomes K ing of F rance
King Louis XIV of France, also known as “The Sun King,” died almost exactly 307 years ago, on Sept. 1, 1715. Of course, this wasn’t too unusual. What was strange about King Louis XIV’s death is that he left his 5-year-old great-grandson, Louis XV, to take his place. Here are a few fun facts about the boy king’s time on the throne. • Until he was 15, Louis XV was supervised by Philippe II, Duke of Orléans. The duke/regent was known to be “irreverent, habitually drunk, and licentious,” according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. He’s also the namesake of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana! The city was founded in 1717, two years into his time as regent. • Even though Louis XV was king and Philippe II was his regent, the real power in the castle lay with King Louis XIV’s sons. Apparently, King Louis XIV didn’t trust the duke as far as he could throw him. So, he willed the power to his sons instead! • Louis XV got engaged at the tender age of 12 to princess Mariana of Spain. This was Philippe’s grand plan, but when the duke passed away, the boy king’s first minister canceled the wedding plans.
• The young monarch eventually came into his own and ruled for 59 years — which seems like a long time until you consider that England’s Queen Elizabeth II just celebrated 70 years on the throne in February 2022.
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Louis XV is also known as “Louis the Well-Beloved.” Ironically, according to Encyclopedia Britannica, he wasn’t a very effective king and his time in power “contributed to the decline of royal authority that led to the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789.” Whoops!
• As crazy as it sounds, Louis XV wasn’t the first school- aged ruler of France. “The Sun King’’ who preceded him actually took the throne at a similar age: 4 years and 8 months old! He ruled until he was 77. That whopping 72-year period makes him the longest-reigning monarch of all time. Want to learn more wild facts about royals? Visit Ranker.com and check out the article “Facts About French Royalty We Just Learned That Made Us Say ‘Really?’”
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