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FROM CHILDHOOD DREAMS TO CHILD ADVOCATE KATIE’S PASSION FOR JUSTICE AND CHILDREN’S WELFARE
I was one of those kids who knew early on that they would be a lawyer. Maybe it’s a bit cliche, but once I read “To Kill a Mockingbird,” I saw the path I wanted to take. I dreamed of helping others in the courtroom and ensuring all people had their voices heard. It didn’t hurt that I loved debate and being right. Everyone who knew me saw the lawyer in me, too. I’ve always been fascinated with how people think and how their backgrounds and experiences inform their personalities. So, before law school, I majored in psychology and minored in history, where I could explore human behavior. I also knew I wanted to help children because so many face life-altering trauma as they move through the foster care system or big changes like a divorce in their family. Throughout law school, I had the opportunity to work in several thriving child advocacy law clinics where I represented children in child welfare proceedings. Getting that hands-on experience and seeing what I could do for children in need drove me to earn a master’s degree of law in child and family law.
Once I finished my master’s degree, I went on to work for multiple law firms. I started with a legal aid organization in Chicago, where I worked with victims of domestic violence before specializing in child welfare cases. My husband, also a lawyer, got a job that took us to Seattle, where I worked as a public defender for about 11 years representing parents and youth. My experience as a public defender frequently brought me into the courtroom for trials and evidentiary hearings, and I also became the supervisor of one of the family defense units. I was able to advance my legal skills, and supervising other attorneys taught me a great deal. The exciting thing about practicing family law in Seattle is that children ages 12 and older are appointed attorneys in dependency proceedings. So, along with representing parents in cases, I gave youth the chance to have their voices heard. Our entire goal is to achieve the best result for the child’s interest, and this allows children to advocate for themselves rather than have adults make those crucial decisions for them without their input. After relocating to Florida, my goal was to continue my advocacy in family law. I quickly discovered Bruce Law Firm and was immediately drawn to the firm because they share many of my goals. The firm works daily to improve clients’ lives and approaches each person with compassion. Divorce is hard, so here at Bruce Law Firm, we all focus on practicing law at a high level and being a strong advocate for the people we represent. The most rewarding part of my career is also the most challenging — working with children. You must ensure you give them a voice, and it’s emotionally difficult when you see their voice
unheard. Overall, I love working with people one-on-one, learning about their experiences and where they are in life. As a lawyer, you develop many relationships with clients, and I want to use all my legal training and education to help them reach realistic goals and outcomes. Outside work, I love spending time with my husband and our 3-year-old daughter. She takes up most of my time. We love watching games like hockey and baseball, though we’re learning new teams — we’re not traditionally South Florida sports fans! Though we just moved here in 2023, I used to vacation in West Palm Beach, so I’m not a total stranger to the state. I hope to get back into golf here as I was an avid player. I feel honored that I’ve been able to help so many people, especially children, over my career. I have always dreamed of doing the right thing for people as a lawyer, and I’m excited for what the future holds at Bruce Law Firm. –Katie McClellan
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EXPLORING THE RICH HISTORY OF SCRABBLE MY WORD!
In 1931, the Great Depression — the worst economic crisis in American history — had thoroughly dampened the country’s spirit. Amidst the crisis, Alfred M. Butts, an out-of-work New York architect, decided to create a game to take his mind off the economy. Aspiring to develop a classic to join the ranks of other timeless card and board games, Butts came up with the idea for a board-and-tile game he non-committedly named “Criss Cross,” which we now know as Scrabble. THE ARCHITECT’S PLAN At its core, Scrabble was inspired by crossword puzzles and always featured the iconic lettered tiles, each with separate quantities and point values. Butts determined the point values by surfing through his collection of local newspapers and counting how often each letter appeared. To prevent players from creating too many cheap plurals, he included only four “S” tiles in each box and assigned the letter a measly 1 point. Butts was eager to share his idea with the world, but the world was not as eager to receive it. He pitched the game to several publishers and retailers, but all rejected it. Butts had to retail it on a small scale, and the game did not become the surefire hit he expected it to be. It wasn’t until fellow New Yorker James Brunot discovered the game that things changed for the better. Brunot offered to mass-produce the game and, in exchange, would provide Butts with a portion of the profits, which Butts happily agreed to.
Strategies for Peaceful Coexistence DIVORCE UNDER ONE ROOF
There are many new challenges and changes while going through a divorce. It can be all that more complex when you are still living with your spouse through the process. Whether it’s financial conditions or to minimize disruptions to the family structure, you may be unable to move out right away for several reasons. Caring for yourself, setting firm boundaries, and communicating if this is your situation is essential. Though every couple is different, there are some ways to keep cohabitation as peaceful and prosperous as possible. SET BOUNDARIES You should quickly establish a new set of physical, emotional, and communication boundaries with your spouse to help prevent conflicts. Decide how space, items, and chores will be divided. Depending on the situation, you can schedule times for each of you to use common spaces like the kitchen to maintain some personal space. You are no longer living together as a husband and wife but as roommates and co-parents. Setting boundaries is especially important if you work from home, like a closed door means you are working. CREATE A NEW BUDGET Each of you will need to save money for the divorce proceedings, and it’s essential to establish a new budget for the household. Money can be an extremely tense topic for couples going through a divorce, so crafting a budget and sticking to it can help prevent future arguments. Plot out how you will split the bills and any other shared expenses. Strive to keep your costs separate. TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN If you have children, it’s essential not to argue in front of them and to have a conversation with them about the situation. You can take a conversation to another room or another time if necessary, but your children will psychologically suffer if they see their parents fighting through the divorce. Don’t pull children into disagreements or disputes, and don’t speak negatively about the other parent in front of your kids. Protect your heart and emotions as you go through this temporary living situation. Understand there will be strains on your mental well-being and challenges, but you can get through the tough spots with communication and patience. You should plan to get your own space, but it takes time. Always turn to your trusted loved ones for support.
BRUNOT’S BARGAIN As soon as Brunot secured the rights to the game, he began making significant changes to it. These included redesigning the board, its color, players’ starting position, and the location of various score multiplier tiles. But his most important contribution was changing its name to Scrabble! The owner of Macy’s then discovered the game and offered to carry it in his stores. Brunot went from creating 12 copies of the game an hour when he first acquired the rights to 2,000 sets per week by 1952. By 1954, millions of copies were sold. Today, the game has been translated into over 20 languages and has sold over 100 million copies. People play the game worldwide, in tournaments and living rooms alike, and it has allowed millions to share in the joy initially envisioned by a down-on-his-luck architect in a time when hope was a distant prospect.
Is your friend or client married to a controlling, manipulative, narcissistic husband?
OUR BOOKS CAN HELP!
The book can be downloaded for FREE at DivorceInformationBooks.com
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TIPS FOR DEALING WITH A DIFFICULT EX DURING DIVORCE THE NARCISSIST’S PLAYBOOK
LIMIT COMMUNICATION Often, the best way to communicate with a narcissistic ex is not to communicate at all. However, there will be circumstances throughout your divorce proceedings where you must speak with your ex. Limit communication as much as possible. You don’t need to engage in drawn-out drama and don’t want this person to blow up and go nuclear. Set boundaries on the way you will communicate and when. You can opt to communicate through writing to have a paper trail if they try to manipulate the situation. SET BOUNDARIES Narcissists engage in boundary testing. They want to see how far they can push your limits and manipulate you or others in your life. Put things in writing and ensure you both adhere to the times and deadlines you’ve agreed on. Be firm on your expectations and limits. Some people find the “gray rock” strategy helpful. This idea is that you try to be as uninteresting as possible to your ex. They feed on your emotions, so don’t give them anything to latch on to. CONTROL YOUR EMOTIONS Your narcissist ex may run an entire smear campaign against you, attempting to sabotage your relationships, control your lawyer, or get in your head. Ignore their attempts and keep conversations cool. Don’t give them any extra information or the satisfaction of making you question yourself. Try not to take anything your ex says personally because they are just projecting their flaws. While communicating with a narcissistic ex-spouse during divorce may feel like an uphill battle, remember that you are not alone. Turn to loved ones for support and work with a lawyer. Your happiness and peace of mind are worth fighting for.
Going through a divorce is a challenging process, but when you add a narcissistic ex to the mix, it can feel like walking through a minefield. Narcissists are looking for ways to control the situation, but there are methods to get through these interactions with as much grace and strength as possible. Let’s explore some practical tips to communicate with your narcissist ex and empower you to move forward with confidence.
Have a Laugh!
BAKED SWEET POTATO FRIES
These fries are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with nutrients!
Ingredients •
2 large sweet potatoes, cut into wedges
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1/2 tsp garlic powder
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2 tbsp olive oil
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1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
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1 tsp smoked paprika
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Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 425 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. Place sweet potato wedges in a large bowl and add olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine. 3. Arrange the sweet potato wedges on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. 4. Bake for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy.
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In the Spotlight: Lawyer Katie McClellan page 1
The Appeal and Evolution of Scrabble Strategies for Peaceful Coexistence page 2 How to Stay Strong and Calm With an Ex-Spouse Baked Sweet Potato Fries page 3
Tips for Affordable Grocery Shopping page 4
EATING WELL ON A BUDGET YOUR GUIDE TO FRUGAL GROCERY SHOPPING
PEANUT BUTTER While everyone loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, this inexpensive ingredient can also be used in a number of other recipes. It can be used as a delicious protein additive to smoothies or spread on celery to make ants on a log. TORTILLAS Tortillas come in two main varieties: corn and flour. The former is more traditional and less expensive, but if you prefer flour, it’s still an economical option. While you can buy pre- cooked tortillas, the flavor is much better when you cook them yourself. If you buy in bulk, you can save the tortillas you aren’t ready to use by freezing them, allowing you to save more and only use what you need. Tortillas are also used by astronauts as a substitute for bread since they don’t leave crumbs when you eat them. If they are good enough for astronauts, they’re good enough for us!
Are you tired of spending more money on fewer ingredients? You are not alone. While prices for most consumer goods have increased, food costs have increased even more . Grocery prices have increased by 25% since 2020, outpacing inflation by 6%. By buying food that costs less, lasts longer, and feeds more people, you can keep your grocery bills manageable while still eating well. Look for these foods at the grocery store to keep your wallet and pantry full! GROUND MEAT Whether it’s chicken, beef, turkey, or pork, ground meat is cheap and usable in many recipes. In addition to a range of options to meet dietary restrictions and preferences, ground meat is sold in larger quantities and costs less than many other forms of meat. Despite not being a “prime cut” option, ground meat is still full of protein that satisfies your hunger.
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