March 2018
A Tournament to Remember
Unlike the rest of the country, we don’t really have seasons here in Florida. We do still have spring break, and it’s a time every kid looks forward to.
became a tradition for us each spring. Called the KDW because of the large number of kingfish, dolphin, and wahoo — yep, that is a real fish — which are found in our West Palm Beach waters. This tournament is great for all ages of people, so it was a fun family affair. With our fishing gear, we’d head offshore on the family boat where my dad taught us how to fish. Kingfish, dolphins, and wahoos can all get pretty big, so you had to hold on tight to reel one of them in. Wahoos, especially, are fast fish, so you were lucky if you caught one. The tournament gave out cash prizes for the biggest fish caught of each type, including junior prize categories. For the angler that gets the biggest dolphin, they give out a check. Thanks to my dad’s skill, we did pretty well. One year, when I was fishing the tournament during a college break, we even won! We didn’t get to keep our winnings for long, as the bar tabs from the dock party that ensued after the tournament award ceremony consumed most of our winnings, but that’s not really what the tournament was about, anyway. It was about spending a day on the water with family and friends, and it was about my sister and I connecting with our family on the water. We went back each year for the camaraderie and fun, not for the prizes. It’s been a few years since my sister and I made it out for the KDW Classic. With kids of our own now, it’s amazing how quickly time goes by. You make new traditions and sometimes old ones slip away. I’m hoping to get back out there soon, though, and take my son Russell with me. Who knows, maybe we’ll even reel in some winning fish. On the inside of the newsletter, we’re welcoming a new face to our law firm. After gaining a wealth of knowledge in family law, divorce attorney Rosalie Cruz joined our firm this year, and we’re so glad to have her as part of our team. We know you will be, too. Read more about her and peruse some other great pieces inside the newsletter.
My sister and I would travel to visit our relatives in northern Florida around this time of year. Our Aunt Jody would take us to the golf course where we’d play with our cousins. When we were teenagers, we’d go for hikes and play baseball. They lived close to the University of Florida, so we enjoyed going to Gators games, too.
Probably my best memory from this time of year, though, was when our dad would take us to the KDW Classic instead. This fishing tournament
Enjoy this season with family and friends and find a couple of ways to enjoy the beautiful water that’s right outside.
– Chris Bruce
Young Russell is captaining the family boat already!
(561) 810-0170 • 1
Meet Our New Attorney
We are so excited to welcome Rosalie Cruz to our firm this year. She comes from a background in family law, and her experience and knowledge in the field makes her a great addition to Bruce Law. Ms. Cruz had her first experience working for an attorney during high school at a personal injury firm. She also worked at a family law firm during college. After working with the magistrates at the Palm Beach County Courthouse for five years, Rosalie left to pursue her dream to go to law school.
WAIT — SCREEN TIME IS GOOD FOR KIDS? How a Balanced Media Diet Bolsters Child Development If you Google the effects of screen time on children, you’re sure to be bombarded with horror stories. Numerous articles claim that, beginning in infancy, the more time a child spends in front of a TV, phone, or computer, the worse their developmental outcomes will be. At first glance, the research is utterly conclusive. It seems we should throw out every TV in our house, smash our kids’ smartphones, and usher our children into the great outdoors as soon as possible. But what most of these studies fail to take into account is the content of the electronic media. If a child spends two hours a day binging episodes of “The Big Bang Theory” or screaming obscenities into a headset while playing “Call of Duty,” it’s going to negatively impact their experience of the world along with their mental and physical health. But not all content is created equal. In the past, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended strict limits on electronic engagement for kids, following the old line of thinking that any kind of screen time would be better spent climbing a tree or running in the backyard. But in October of 2016, they offered new recommendations for parents. For infants and young toddlers, the research still sides pretty heavily against the use of iPads and television. Before 18 months of age, a child lacks the cognitive capabilities allowing them to apply the lessons of technology to real life, and even after that, the APP recommends that media consumption should be limited to “high- quality programming, such as the content offered by Sesame Workshop and PBS.” But for kids ages 5 and up, parents should avoid banning screen time outright, but function as their child’s media mentor. Instead of decrying time spent building complex structures in “Minecraft” as hours that could be spent on the soccer field, we should set expectations and boundaries to ensure that children can deepen their experience of the world through media, not hamper it. The problem starts not with the screen itself, but when the consumption of media becomes problematic, replacing regular face-to-face interactions and physical activity. But with a balanced media diet, kids can have the best of both worlds.
With her early exposure to family law, participating in the family law clinic later in law school solidified Rosalie’s decision that this was the area of practice for her. “There’s a lot of emotion, and sometimes it’s really challenging for our clients. Sometimes, attorneys just want to focus on the administrative work and not get caught up in emotions, but helping our clients with that aspect is part of our job.” Rosalie has been part of many cases, and she recalls one that has stayed with her. “It was a relocation trial. This little boy had grown up with his dad, but his mom wanted to relocate him to another state. We were working on the case so he could remain with his dad, and the judge ruled in our favor. My client was able to stay with his son, and it was a happy conclusion for everyone.” As a mother herself, Rosalie spends most of her time outside of work with her son. “I like to take him to the park or the beach, and we like to travel a lot.” They visit her family in Honduras when they can, and Rosalie hopes to go back to Europe at some point, where she visited in college.
When you come to Bruce Law this year, you’ll see the welcome new face of someone who is passionate about her work and her clients.
Rosalie says, “My favorite part about family law is the interactions we get to have with people. Each case is unique, just as each person is unique, and we look for creative ways to approach each one. Family law challenges you to think outside of the box to help others.”
Does a friend or client have divorce questions?
our divorce strategy book can help!
The book can be downloaded for FREE at BrucePA.com/free-divorce-book .
If your friend or client lives in the South Florida area we will mail them a hard copy of the book upon request.
2 • BrucePA.com
Finding Health Insurance
During a Divorce
Finding yourself in need of insurance during or after a divorce can be especially stressful. It might even be the first time you’re faced with having to look for health insurance for yourself. If you’re a part-time worker or self-employed it may be especially tricky. Until now, it’s more than likely you have been covered by your spouse’s insurance. With the daunting task of having to look for health insurance, you might be wondering what to do. One of the best ways to become covered is to see if you qualify for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. COBRA enables you to continue receiving health insurance through the use of your spouse’s employer. While it seems like a safety net, you might need to prepare yourself and consider if it is the best option for you. The downsides of COBRA are that it can be rather expensive and has a time limit. It lasts for three years after your divorce and can be discontinued if you fail to pay the premiums. While on COBRA, you may have to pay all of the monthly premiums yourself, so be sure that all your finances are in order if this is the route you want to take. Another way — one of the cheapest options — is to be on a single plan for yourself. If you have children, they might be able to stay on your spouse’s insurance, giving you leave to only sort out your own insurance needs. Start looking as soon as possible to see if you qualify for insurance plans, even before the finalization of the divorce.
Finding insurance shouldn’t be something you neglect while getting a divorce. You may need health insurance sooner rather than later so be prepared to start looking for what best fits for you.
have a LAUGH
Zesty Zucchini
Enchiladas
For a lighter take on enchiladas, go carb-free by swapping tortillas for zucchini!
ingredients
•
4 large zucchinis
•
2 teaspoons cumin
•
1 tablespoon olive oil or ghee
•
2 teaspoons chili powder
•
1 large onion, chopped
•
3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
•
2 cloves garlic, minced
•
2 cups shredded cheese
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350 F. In a large skillet, heat oil. Add onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and salt to taste. Stir to combine. Add chicken and 1 cup enchilada sauce. 2. Use vegetable peeler to thinly slice zucchini. Lay out three slices, slightly overlapping, and spoon chicken mixture on top. Roll the zucchini “tortilla” and place on baking sheet. Repeat until all zucchini and chicken is used. 3. Cover the enchiladas with remaining sauce and sprinkle with cheese. Bake 20 minutes, and enjoy!
Adapted from delish.com.
(561) 810-0170 • 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1601 Forum Pl. Ste. 1101 West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Spring Break in Florida page 1
When Screen Time Is Good for Kids A Warm Welcome to Our New Attorney page 2
Finding Health Insurance During a Divorce page 3
Are You Keeping Up With Your Goals? page 4
Keeping Up With Your New Year’s Resolutions
March is the month of spring time and rejuvenation. It’s also the time when most people have forgotten about the resolutions and goals they set earlier in the year. Have you neglected or given up your goals? If you have, you are far from alone. Most people let their goals fall to the wayside at least by March, if not long before. It comes down to four simple reasons.
The best way to stay on track is to be as specific as possible. Understand what you need to do to accomplish your goals. Make sure you have access to the appropriate resources that will help you make progress. Resources come in all forms. Look to the people around you for accountability — your family, friends, neighbors, or colleagues. If you don’t want to involve anyone else, keep a notebook or diary to track progress. Or if you are learning a new skill, such as a foreign language for a trip next year, the resource you need may be an app on your phone. When you bring specific goals together with the necessary resources, achieving your dreams becomes more possible than ever before. You just have to take steps to avoid falling into the mistakes listed above. Set attainable concrete goals, track your progress, and check in with someone to keep you accountable. Since it’s been a few months, take a moment to review how far you’ve come since January. What do you need to do to make the next three months — and the rest of 2018 — your best yet?
1.
They set goals that were out of reach or unrealistic.
2.
They had zero accountability.
3.
They set abstract goals.
4.
They didn’t track progress.
Setting goals is the easy part. A lot of people say they want to lose weight, eat better, learn a new skill, or try a new hobby, but they don’t define their goals any further. Vague goals aren’t really goals at all.
4 • BrucePA.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog