Stevens Firm - May 2019

Learning to Be Grateful

Some Ways to Help Children Appreciate Their Teachers

Teacher Appreciation Week runs from May 6–10 this year, and there are plenty of ways students of all ages can thank their educators for everything they do. Being a teacher isn’t an easy job, and the people who make it their profession are passionate about helping kids learn. Depending on how old your child is, they may need a parent’s help in showing their appreciation. Here are a few ways parents and children can appreciate teachers together. Thank-You Notes This gesture is simple and sweet and can be very thoughtful. Telling a teacher what makes them outstanding can often be just as valuable as a gift. Help your child write an appreciative note and then write one yourself. Teachers often have to maintain the happiness of students, administrators, and parents. Your card could relieve some of the stress of that balancing act and let them know that you acknowledge their efforts. A Homemade Meal Making a homemade meal (or dessert) shows teachers that you went the extra mile to appreciate their hard work. You could make a favorite dish of yours or try to find a new recipe online. Either way, encourage your child to help you with the process so that the meal is truly a gift from both of you.

Donating School Supplies Many teachers use their own money to buy school supplies for their classroom. This is just one of the ways teachers go above and beyond on a daily basis, and buying some extra school supplies can help ease that cost. Take your child shopping with you and help them pick out supplies that you know their teacher will appreciate.

Your children spend several hours a day with their teachers, so fostering relationships with them is vital. Use this day to help your children understand the importance of teachers, to teach them the power of gratitude, and to encourage them to show respect for everyone who helps them in life. Parenthood and Custody Agreements

How to Navigate the Upcoming Holidays as Former Spouses Throughout the entire divorce process, the most emotionally murky aspect is often effectuating a custody agreement with which both you and your former spouse feel comfortable. Some divorces end in drawn-out custody battles with parents fighting tooth and nail for more parental rights or time shared with kids. But even in the most heated of custody arguments, it’s important to remember the court’s primary role: to establish an order that is in the best interest of the child. When parents don’t have a formal custody order, either because they are very early in the custody process or because they

have decided to make custody arrangements on their own, it is important to keep the best-interests principle in mind. By being flexible, you can avoid having to bring the issue before a judge. Conversely, if your former spouse is being unreasonable with respect to accommodating sensible custody requests, it may be time to get our attorneys here at The Stevens Firm involved. Let us know how we can help!

With both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day fast approaching, divorced parents may anticipate some unique issues regarding their custody agreement. Often, the more “minor” holidays are lost in the shuffle when parents are discussing where children will spend holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving. While it may seem obvious that a mother should have custody on Mother’s Day and a father should have custody on Father’s Day, what happens if Father’s Day falls during the mother’s custodial weekend? Situations like these require parents to think back to the court’s role in custody agreements. If you are truly thinking of your child’s preferences, then, in nearly every case, your son’s or daughter’s best interest is served by spending time with the parent that is being celebrated on a specific holiday.

2 www.SCFamilyLaw.com

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