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An Unbreakable Bond CHRISTOPHER AND KATIE’S SIBLING RELATIONSHIP
No two sibling relationships are the same, but the bonds people form throughout childhood can be strong. National Siblings Day on April 10 celebrates that connection. Christopher and his sister, Katie, have always been close. And while Ashley is an only child, she and Katie have formed a sister- like relationship over the years. Christopher and Katie’s parents, Russ and Krissy, raised them in Palm Beach Gardens. Though they had different friends as kids, the two spent a lot of time together on their father’s boat and shared a love of Rottweilers. They also grew up understanding the value of quality time spent with family. The two have followed similar paths in life. While there were no other lawyers in the family, both chose to become attorneys. Florida State University accepted Christopher for law school while Katie still studied there as an undergraduate. Christopher, being older, became a mentor to Katie, and they enjoyed spending their free time together. She ultimately followed in her older brother’s footsteps and attended law school as well. Katie met her husband, Shawn, while studying in Jacksonville. Since he’s native to the area, she decided to stay there while Christopher returned to South Florida. Despite the physical distance, both siblings gravitated toward the same vein of law, specializing in divorce and family matters. Christopher and Katie both felt a sense of purpose in helping people leave bad relationships and enter new and better lives. In fact, they both earned their certifications from the Florida Bar in Marital and Family Law. Christopher and Katie have stayed close over the years despite their physical distance, thanks to their strong family ties and shared love of family law. We always see Katie at the annual Marital and Family Law Conference each January in Orlando and catch up in between sessions. Katie is a partner at her law firm, so we all swap war stories and share best practices for running a business. Our family also visits Katie and Shawn in Jacksonville each year for Thanksgiving, and we all look forward to that annual tradition. Shawn has a large Southern family that values togetherness and great Southern cooking. Our families enjoy uniting as one and enhancing our bond.
Katie & Christopher at the 2023 Marital & Family Law Conference in Orlando
Russell and Ruby also enjoy spending time with their two cousins of similar ages. The four kids are close; they always ask when they’ll see each other next and video chat. Just as we hope Russell and Ruby will have a close relationship like Christopher and Katie as adults, we also hope to carry on a tradition of a close-knit extended family. This National Siblings Day, make it a point to reach out to your sibling(s) to tell them you care about them. If you don’t have siblings, reach out to a good friend, in-law, or another close relative to tell them how much you care. Just a few words can go a long way toward building meaningful relationships that will last.
–Ashley and Chris Bruce
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Siblings and Time-Sharing
5 Documentaries to Watch on Earth Day
Why Together Is Usually Better
It’s no secret that divorce is a big adjustment for children. The disruption of learning to live across two homes, developing new routines, and adapting to time-sharing schedules can be a struggle. Therefore, it’s essential to ensure that children have other constants in their lives to hold on to — including their relationships with their siblings. Siblings often have an intense bond, and separating two children who have grown up together can be traumatic. So, courts are generally very reluctant to split custody. A time- sharing agreement where the children have two different primary caregivers may work out well for the parents, but it’s usually a detriment to the children. In most cases, judges prefer a time-sharing arrangement where siblings spend all or most of their time in the same household. Generally, the same custody agreement will work for multiple children, with only minor adjustments needed. But while they are relatively rare, there are exceptions to the rule. When parents split children between households before a formal time-sharing agreement is in place, the court can be in a difficult position. Judges want to look after the children’s best interests and aim to disrupt their lives as little as possible. Occasionally, separate households also work better for logistical reasons, like attending different schools. And sometimes, older children express a preference for living in separate homes; judges will take this into account. But even then, the court will likely pair this arrangement with time spent together for the children. Barring extremely rare situations where the children are unsafe with each other, fostering these relationships is valuable and has long-term psychological benefits. Further, minimizing the disruption of divorce helps children heal and move forward. Half-siblings and step-siblings may pose additional challenges for a parenting plan. Time-sharing arrangements with a third (or fourth) parent complicate the logistics of ensuring siblings can spend time together. But research shows that children often form equally strong bonds with the other kids in a household, regardless of their biological relationship. The court will consider these interests and make an effort to ensure bonded children have time together. Every child experiencing their parents’ divorce needs reassurance that their family is still their family. Ensuring siblings don’t have a disruption in their relationship with each other is one of the best ways to do so — and provides countless additional benefits.
Share the Facts With Your Whole Family!
Earth Day is coming up on Saturday, April 22. But do your kids know why we commemorate the holiday? Do you? If you don’t know much about the history of environmentalism — or just want to learn more about the state of our planet — consider celebrating Earth Day by watching a documentary as a family. Dozens of fantastic films cover everything from the crusade to preserve our coral reefs to how farmers use soil health to enhance the planet. Here are a few of our favorites. ‘Kids Take Action Against Ocean Plastic’ — This short five-minute documentary from National Geographic follows a group of Hawaiian students determined to clean up their local beaches. It’s available for free on National Geographic’s YouTube channel! (If you watch it and love this documentary, check out the PG-rated flick “Plastic Island ” on Netflix, which tackles the same issue in Indonesia.) ‘Brave Blue World: Racing to Solve Our Water Crisis’ — This PG-rated documentary about water security takes place on five continents and stars celebrities Liam Neeson, Matt Damon, and Jaden Smith. Check it out on Netflix. ‘Extinction: The Facts’ — This hard-hitting documentary from famous nature historian David Attenborough is perfect for kids ages 16 and up. It tackles serious topics like species loss, food and water shortages, and the relationship between climate change and pandemic diseases. “Extinction: The Facts” is available on PBS. org or Prime Video. ‘Kiss the Ground’ — Join actor Woody Harrelson on Netflix for an inspiring look at soil, why it matters, and what farmers and activists are doing to save and enhance it — and our food supply. The documentary is family-friendly and rated G. None of these documentaries existed in 1970 when anti-pollution activists came together to create Earth Day, build the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and pass laws to protect our air and water. But they’re a wonderful extension of that spirit! Hopefully, you’ll be able to find time to watch at least one of them this month. After watching, consider taking action and volunteering for a green project near you.
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–Ashley and Chris Bruce
Planet Protectors Kid-Friendly Earth Day Activities
We only have one Earth, and we all want our children and grandchildren to enjoy it for years to come. Making that happen will take teaching our children to value and safeguard our planet. Thankfully, it doesn’t involve much work — and it can even be a lot of fun. Here are four simple activities you and your children can try this Earth Day. Keeping the Neighborhood Clean Do bottles, food packages, or other stray garbage ever find their way onto your street or into your local park? Most communities have at least a little litter, which presents an opportunity to help your kid feel like they’re making a difference. Bring a small bag and some gloves on a walk, pick up what you find, and dispose of it properly. For younger kids, it will almost be like a scavenger hunt. Growing Something New There’s no better way to teach your children about the preciousness of nature than having them grow a plant from a seed. Help your
kids select the seeds they want to grow and plant them in a small container. Having your kid be in charge of ensuring the seeds get enough water and sun will teach them responsibility, and they’ll be amazed when their plants start to sprout. Making Planet-Friendly Crafts You can keep small hands busy and teach about the planet by helping your kids create DIY bird feeders from milk cartons, pine cones, or paper towel rolls. Seed bombs made from clay and soil are also a fun (but messy) craft. You can give away the results to friends or plant them around your neighborhood (not private property) and watch them grow throughout the year. Your kids might also enjoy making outdoor art by arranging rocks or leaves for others to find and admire. Starting a Compost Bin Food waste is a big problem. None of us can solve it alone, but we can all do our part. One of the best ways is through composting your food scraps and teaching kids the importance of reducing waste and living sustainably. You can start your own compost at home or join a neighborhood initiative — yes, even people living in city apartments can compost! Research ideas together and commit to being more environmentally friendly as a family.
Cod and Asparagus Bake
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Ingredients
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Oil for baking pan 4 4-oz cod fillets
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2 tbsp lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp grated lemon zest 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
1 lb thin asparagus, trimmed 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
The entire BLF attended the 2-day long family law conference in Orlando
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. In a 15x10x1-inch baking pan brushed with oil, place cod, asparagus, and tomatoes. 2. Brush cod with lemon juice, then sprinkle with lemon zest. Sprinkle cod and vegetables with Romano cheese. Bake until fish flakes easily with a fork, about 12 minutes. 3. Remove pan from oven; preheat broiler. Broil cod mixture 3-4 inches from the heat source until vegetables are lightly browned, about 2-3 minutes.
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Celebrate National Siblings Day page 1
Earth Day Documentaries to Watch Keeping the Kids Together page 2 Teach Kids Sustainability With Earth Day Activities Cod and Asparagus Bake page 3
Roger to the Rescue! page 4 Never Doubt a Canine’s Senses ONE SNIFF CAN SAVE A LIFE
Dogs are known for their keen sense of smell — on TV, you will often see dogs that can find missing people or even search for drugs and bombs. When dogs use their extraordinary senses for a particular job, they’re often trained for that one purpose, but even without training, dogs do seem to know something is wrong.
The next day, Roger’s owners let him roam around outside. Roger began sniffing around Cohen’s home (some believe Roger had heard the man’s calls for help), and once Roger found the elderly man, he didn’t leave his side for the rest of the day. After a couple of hours, Frances Wall, Roger’s owner, began calling for Roger. When he didn’t immediately come home when she called, she started looking for him, and that’s when she found Roger and Cohen. She immediately called emergency services, and three firefighters came by the home to free Cohen. They quickly took him to the hospital because they worried about hypothermia. Over a week later, medical staff released Cohen from the hospital, and now he gives Roger treats whenever he sees him. “I owe my life to that dog. They [health care professionals] said that if I would’ve been there for a few more hours, I would have been a goner,” Cohen told Bournemouth Daily Echo. Fortunately for Cohen, Roger’s amazing canine senses saved the day. It’s always great to have a furry friend around — you never know when their incredible skills will come in handy!
Roger, the Jack Russell terrier-poodle mix, is a great example.
Our story takes place in Ringwood, England, in December 2022. Winter was in full swing, with temperatures below freezing. No one wanted to find themselves outside in the cold for too long because it could be dangerous. Unfortunately, that’s what happened to 94-year-old Morris Cohen, and he almost died.
Cohen just got home and parked his car in the garage when he found himself in a spot of trouble. As he tried to exit his vehicle, his walking stick suddenly snapped in half. Unable to keep his balance, Cohen fell and became wedged under his car’s brake and clutch pedals. The man called for help several times, but unfortunately, no one could hear his pleas, and he remained stuck overnight.
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