WANT TO ENTERTAIN THE KIDS THIS SUMMER?
CREATE A SLIP-AND-SLIDE!
During the summer, there’s nothing better than jumping into a pool to cool yourself off. However, if you don’t have a pool, the next best thing might just be creating your own slip-and-slide! Here’s how you can make yours so you can keep having fun in the sun while staying cool. STEP 1: PURCHASE THE NECESSARY ITEMS. You can buy a 10-by-25-foot roll of plastic sheeting at home improvement stores for under $30. Choose 6 mil so it can withstand everyone running and sliding on it. Then, you want to get 10 regular-size pool noodles and one large pool noodle. Construction supplies you’ll need are Velcro tape, scissors, two hose sprinkler attachments, and several landscape staples.
plastic sheet onto a relatively flat surface free of rocks, sticks, and any debris that could puncture the plastic or injure you and your family. You can cut the plastic to any length you like — you may want one long slip-and-slide, or you can create several smaller ones so you can play games. After rolling out the plastic sheeting, lay the pool noodles down on each side of the plastic and place the larger pool noodle on one end of the sheet. Wrap the plastic sheet around the large pool noodle, use Velcro tape to secure the plastic around it, then do the same for the other pool noodles. These will act as barriers so people won’t slide off the plastic. Once everything is wrapped and taped, place landscape staples on the four corners of your waterslide and a few along the sides to secure it. Finally, set up your sprinklers on either side of the slip-and-slide. If you want the surface to be extra slick, drizzle some dish soap onto the plastic. STEP 3: SLIP, SLIDE, AND SPLASH! Now, it’s time to have fun in the sun! The possibilities are endless regarding what you can do with your DIY waterslide. So, let your creativity flourish! Will you be creating your own slip-and-slide this summer? We would love to know the games you and your family play on your DIY waterslide!
STEP 2: BEGIN BUILDING YOUR SLIP-AND-SLIDE. Once you have all the needed supplies, start by rolling the
A Better Way to Divorce
THE BENEFITS OF MEDIATION
Marriages don’t often end amicably; even when they do, there are almost always points of contention regarding dividing child custody or assets. With many disagreements between them, people often feel certain their divorce case will end up at trial. But there is another way, and Tennessee Courts usually require divorcing couples to try it first. Most judges require divorcing couples in Tennessee to attend mediation before proceeding to a trial. A judge may waive mediation in cases of alleged abuse or willful abandonment of a child by one parent. They may also forgo the requirement on a case-by-case basis when there is sufficient evidence that mediation will result in a stalemate or would create a significant financial burden. Fortunately, mediation benefits most couples and helps bring closure to contested divorce actions. The process has a high success rate for resolving disputes, and research indicates compliance with the divorce agreement is higher when couples decide the terms together.
Some of the most significant benefits of mediation involve time and money. Mediation generally leads to a much faster resolution than adjudication of a divorce at trial. Litigants who resolve their matters at mediation can sometimes save money and avoid paying expert witnesses to testify at a deposition or trial. Additionally, trials are expensive and result in
significant attorney’s fees as well as requiring the participants to take time off of work to attend.
Most importantly, mediation also gives people more control of the outcome of their case than going to trial. The process allows the participants to give and take on the matters most crucial to them, something they lose at trial. An experienced mediator will often point out the strengths or weaknesses of the parties’ positions as well as provide insight as to potential outcomes at trial. When you submit all of your issues to the trial judge, the judge’s word becomes final, whether the people it affects like it or not. While it’s sometimes a necessary part of the process, it should rarely be a first step. Crucially, you can and should still have legal representation during the mediation process. If you’re considering a divorce, ensure an experienced family law attorney is at the bargaining table to represent your interests. The team at Douglass & Runger has successfully settled many divorces in mediation and would love to take a look at your case. Call us today at 901-388-5805.
2 • DouglassRunger.com
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