JOSEPH F. EMMERTH A LOOK AT FAMILY LAW OF SULLIVAN TAYLOR & GUMINA, P.C.
MAY 2018
630-665-7676
www.stglawfirm.com
TAKING A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Whenever May comes around, I’m reminded of what people have done for me. With Mother’s Day in the middle of the month and Memorial Day at the end, I like to reflect during this time of year on every person who’s been there for me. Thinking back doesn’t have to be purely work-related. You can reflect on how your business has grown, but I’ve found that it coincides with how you have grown as a person. Everyone in our lives affects us one way or another; the most memorable are those who supported us through any of the difficult times we faced. When I think back to those who helped me most, I think about my parents. I was fortunate enough to have both parents in my life. They were equally supportive and there for me when I needed them. I am especially grateful this month for the time spent with my mother. She was a stay-at-home mom and was always there for me whenever I needed her. I could always count on her to help me out, no matter the problem.
My parents aren’t the only ones on my mind this month. Memorial Day is a holiday I can intimately relate with. I have a lot of family and friends who have joined one branch of the military or another. I have family who fought in WWII and the Korean War. I have friends who went into the Marines right out of high school. They were perfectly able and capable to go a different route with their lives, into a different field, but they choose to fight for their country. When I think about my life, I can’t help but think about my family. They helped shape me into who I am. However, I’m not the only one shaped into who they are today by the care of others. This month, I recommend that you take some time to think about your family, your life, and anyone who’s made an impact on you. I believe it’s important to take a step back and really appreciate everyone who supports you. Be thankful and reflect on where you are right now in your life and who’s responsible for getting you here. It is good practice to do this regularly throughout the year, but this month of reflection can be a great time to start. You can even take this opportunity to think about your kids and how you want their lives to be. If you’re faced with some difficult times ahead and are worried about them, it’s important to try to see things through their perspectives and consider what’s best for your children. May brings the end of the school year, meaning that many kids are graduating and planning to move on to college. Take this opportunity to think back on all the things you’ve done for them so far and what else you can do to help them move forward. You can consider the lessons you learned in your life and pass them on to your children. -Joseph Emmerth
1
630-665-7676
WHAT TYPES OF SERVICES DO YOU OFFER? At Ethos Counseling Group, I offer a variety of services for individuals, families, and couples who are experiencing any of the following: anger, anxiety, depression, family issues, grief, relationship problems, stress, and trauma. Some clients seek a Christian perspective, and I offer Christian counseling as well. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE COUPLES CONSIDERING A DIVORCE? The advice I would give couples considering a divorce is to search their heart and examine the positive aspects of their relationship. Often, couples do not feel validated or respected, and this creates emotional wounds. I would ask the couple how they have nurtured their marriage and advise them to actively listen to one another with empathy and understanding. I believe if couples took the step to seek counseling, they are willing to do the work toward repentance, forgiveness, healing, and renewal. HOW CAN PEOPLE LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU AND CONTACT YOU? People can find out more about me and my practice by going on our website at EthosCounselingGroup.com and by finding me on PsychologyToday.com. They can also contact me at Ethos Counseling Group located at 2210 Midwest Road, Suite 213, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Our office number is 630-828-8120. Deciding when your teen should date is a bit more complicated. If you believe your teen shows signs of maturity and you’re comfortable letting them date, now is a good time to start a conversation about it. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, teens should be allowed to have one-on-one dates sometime after the age of 16. Dr. Ron Eager, a pediatrician at Denver Health Medical Center, points out that there is an enormous difference between a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old in terms of life experience and maturity levels. APPROPRIATE DATE SPOTS If your teen seems unsure of where to go on a date, suggest some places you feel comfortable with. This is a good way to encourage safe and age-appropriate activities that both individuals can enjoy. Some possibilities include the zoo, a movie, dinner, bowling, ice skating, go-karting, or an amusement park. These kinds of activities encourage a comfortable, fun environment that may help ease nerves for both you and your teen. Creating a comfortable parent-child relationship that encourages a teen to turn to you for help and guidance is the first step toward keeping them as safe as you can. WHEN YOUR TEEN WANTS TO START DATING
Parents often feel pretty antsy when their teens want to date. It’s fun and exciting for the teen, but there are plenty of reasons for parents to worry. But don’t feel hopeless in this situation. Take the initiative to let your child know you’re there for them. Below are a few tips that can help keep your teen safe while respecting their individuality. COMMUNICATION Open communication between you and your teen can help immensely. When your teen expresses an interest in dating, sit down and talk with them about it in a comfortable environment. It may be a little awkward, but letting your child know they can talk to you about dating will help them feel more at ease. Let your teen know they can always come to you, even if they have something unpleasant or uncomfortable to share. RULES ON DATING When your teen starts to date, there’s nothing wrong with setting up a few rules. Putting an age restriction and a curfew in place is a good start. Come up with a time that both you and your teen can agree on.
INTERVIEW WITH YOLANDA COSEY, ED.D., M.S., LPC, NCC, CAMS-II
WHAT LED YOU TO DO THIS TYPE OF WORK? Before I obtained my license as a professional counselor, I began my career as a teacher with Chicago Public Schools. After 19 1/2 years there, I took a position with City Colleges of Chicago for several years. With much prayer and deliberation about my future, I began to seek God for my next steps. As an ordained minister, I kept thinking about the correlation
between ministering to people spiritually and emotionally. What I realized is that people need a holistic approach, and I was not fully equipped to provide it. From that perspective, I decided to enroll in school to obtain a degree in counseling. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK? What I enjoy about my work is meeting people where they are. I like to be authentic with my clients and make them feel safe and secure. I enjoy listening to their narratives as I work with them collaboratively to reach their goals.
2 www.stglawfirm.com
WHEN YOUR FORMER SPOUSE
DOESN’T PAY CHILD SUPPORT
WHEN YOUR EX-SPOUSE ISN’T COMPLYING WITH CHILD SUPPORT
In many divorces, one parent is court-ordered to pay child support to the other. This is to help cover the expenses associated with raising a child. Usually, child support is received every pay period, and when a parent misses these payments, the child can suffer. If you find yourself having to pay child support (or if you are receiving child support), there are a couple of facts you should keep in mind.
The first thing you’ll need to do after a missed child support payment is speak with your former spouse. It could be that they are facing a short-term financial difficulty, and, in a situation like this, it’s important to be flexible. For example, see if they can make up for the missed payment the following month or if they can make a partial payment now and the rest later. However, if this is a recurring situation, it might be time to speak with your lawyer. He or she can work with the court system and the State Disbursement Unit to take action against your former spouse to extract the money. You may be required to submit proof of his or her delinquency, which your lawyer can then use in court. If you’re a parent with a child support plan in place and your former spouse has developed a habit of missing his or her payments, don’t be afraid to take action. You and your child deserve the money that your former spouse has promised to pay. Contact our Sullivan Taylor & Gumina, P.C. team at 630-756-5112 today to schedule your initial legal consultation with a member of our firm.
PENALTIES FOR NOT PAYING CHILD SUPPORT
A parent who fails to make their child support payments can face a number of repercussions: • Wage and bank account garnishment • Seizure of his or her tax refund or state lottery winnings • Seizure of his or her assets to extract unpaid money • Suspension of his or her driver’s license • Suspension of his or her professional licenses • Denial of his or her passport application • Criminal penalties that include fines and jail time
HAVE A LAUGH!
Inspired by delish.com
GRILLED RANCH POTATOES
If you want to be the hit of this year’s Memorial Day cookout, don’t overlook the star power of a well-made side dish. These smoky, tangy grilled potatoes will be the talk of the party. The best part is how easy they are to prep and make!
INGREDIENTS
• 2 pounds baby potatoes, halved • 1/4 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil • Juice of 1/2 lemon • 1/2 packet ranch seasoning • Ranch dressing for drizzling • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
• Bacon bits (optional) • Salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat grill to medium. In a large pan, toss potatoes with olive oil, lemon juice, and ranch seasoning. Season generously with salt and pepper. 2. Skewer potatoes. (If using wood skewers, be sure to soak in water an
hour before grilling.) Grill until tender and lightly charred, about 15 minutes. 3. Drizzle with ranch and garnish with chives and bacon bits.
3
630-665-7676
JOSEPH F. EMMERTH OF SULLIVAN TAYLOR & GUMINA, P.C.
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
630-665-7676 | www.stglawfirm.com Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5pm INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1250 E. Diehl Rd., Suite 400 Naperville, IL 60563
May Reflections PAGE 1
When Your Teen Wants to Start Dating PAGE 2
5 Questions With Yolanda Cosey PAGE 2
What Happens When Your Former Spouse Doesn’t Pay Child Support? PAGE 3
Grilled Ranch Potatoes PAGE 3
MOTHERS SHAPE THE WORLD 3 OF HISTORY’S BRAVEST MOMS
IRENA SENDLER (1910–2008) When the Nazis invaded Warsaw in September
Moms make the world go round. After running the gauntlet of childbirth, they raise and guide us throughout our lives, shouldering the tremendous burden and responsibility of motherhood. Mothers are in turn formidable, kind, powerful, gentle, wise, fierce, patient, supportive, empathetic, driven, and full of love. In honor of Mother’s Day, here are three historic moms who never stopped fighting for what they believed in. SOJOURNER TRUTH (1797–1883) Before she escaped from New York slaveholder John Dumont, Sojourner Truth had at least three of her children sold away from her. When Dumont went back on his promise to emancipate Truth and her infant daughter in 1826, she took the girl and fled to an abolitionist Quaker family, but she was forced to leave her other daughter and her 5-year-old son, Peter, behind. Soon after, she learned that Peter had been illegally sold by Dumont to a slaveholder in Alabama, so she went to court and secured his safe return. It was the first successful case brought by a black woman against a white man in American history. Truth went on to become a prominent abolitionist and a speaker for women’s rights, delivering her famous impromptu speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?” in May of 1851.
of 1939, Irena Sendler, a 29-year-old social worker and mother of two, hatched a scheme to rescue Jewish children from the brutal ghettos. Along with many friends and colleagues, she smuggled out nearly 2,500 Jewish orphans, hiding infants on trams and garbage wagons and guiding kids through a labyrinth of secret passageways beneath the city. EMMELINE PANKHURST (1858–1928) Despite being a wife and the mother of five children — two of whom died tragically young — Emmeline Pankhurst became one of the fiercest advocates for women’s suffrage in the late 19th century. After founding the Women’s Social and Political Union in 1903, she and her cohorts adopted an aggressive strategy to raise awareness for the issue; they began by buttonholing politicians and staging rallies, then progressed to vandalism, window smashing, and arson. She was instrumental in the movement. Pankhurst lived to see women gain the right to vote in 1928.
4
www.stglawfirm.com
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker