HELP YOUR KIDS ACHIEVE MORE THIS YEAR
on your own resolutions. When you proclaim that you will read more books or finally get a gym membership, do you actually try to do it? Your kids will assign as much importance to New Year’s resolutions as you do, so by sticking to your own commitments, you can help them stay on track too.
Keep things simple and achievable.
When your kids are forming their resolutions, their first attempts will probably be very broad. Statements like “I want to be more kind” or “I will try to help more around the house” incorporate good values but don’t include any actionable steps. Help your kids think of tangible ways to act on those goals. For example, if they want to be tidier, a good resolution might be for them to clean their room once a week or take responsibility for one household chore every day. While it’s important for you to help your kids formulate their goals, be sure that you aren’t taking over. If they’re ultimately responsible for their resolutions, they’ll feel more compelled to keep them. Instead, suggest different goal areas they could improve, such as home, school, or sports, and let them elaborate. When it comes to creating habits, nobody is perfect, so even if your kids falter on their goals in the middle of February, don’t worry. The important thing is that you continue to encourage them every step of the way. Don’t do all the work for them.
With Simple, Actionable Goals
With every new year comes an opportunity to reinvent ourselves or start down a new path toward self-improvement. Making resolutions is a big part of many families’ New Year’s traditions, and parents often have a desire for their kids to take part in that tradition when they’re old enough. Following through on resolutions is tough, especially for young children, but with your help, they can achieve their goals.
Practice what you preach.
You are your children’s role model for almost everything, including following through on New Year’s resolutions. So, ask yourself if you follow through
It’s against the law to hide assets during your divorce. It can lead to criminal charges, including perjury and contempt of court. But that doesn’t stop people from doing it. People tend to do so out of either fear or spite. The best way to protect yourself is to work with your family law attorney to uncover those assets. Sometimes, this is a lot easier than many people imagine. Here are a few places you can check. Tax Returns Try pulling the past five years of tax returns. While a spouse may lie to you or in official court documents, they might be hesitant to lie to the IRS. After all, the IRS can levy much steeper criminal penalties against anyone who tries it. Look at the numbers on the tax return and compare them to your spouse’s stated income and assets. If you find discrepancies, show them to your attorney. Bank Statements Your ex might withdraw a whole bunch of money out of your joint account hoping you won’t notice. Sometimes they also fail to make deposits you know should be there, figuring they can just tuck them away into a separate account without you noticing. This is especially true for spouses who get bonuses or who need to reimburse expenses. What to Do if Your Spouse Is Hiding Assets During a Divorce
Business Records This applies if your spouse owns a business, especially if you haven’t been
involved with the business in any way. Look for delayed invoicing, sudden spikes in payout activity, or uncleared checks. You might need to involve a forensic accountant to find the full extent of hidden assets here, too. Consult with your attorney if you have reason to suspect something may be going on. High-asset divorces are more likely to be high-conflict and full of shenanigans like hiding assets. You need an experienced divorce attorney to help you protect yourself. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call. John Bledsoe can help you safely navigate tough family law problems.
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