You Mad, Bro?

Dr. S is here this week with a special guest, Alexandra Cabonor, Esq. to chat about domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and Protection from Abuse (PFA) processes. First, Dr. S addresses why Dr. J has been absent from the podcast lately (SPOILER: He hasn't been on a month long vacation, unfortunately), then the ladies discuss ways the PFA system works for victims of DV and IPV, the ways people use it as a litigation tactic, as well as some resources available to If you or someone you know is experiencing DV or IPV.  Attorney Cabonor provides some great examples of who, what, where, and when you can legally get a PFA - and things to consider when getting one -and the ladies discuss the complications when someone only gets a PFA for custody or divorce litigation tactics and some of the consequences. SO! Grab your bevy of choice, press play, and get ready to level-up your co-parenting!

After completing undergraduate studies at Washington & Jefferson College, Ms. Cabonor attended law school at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She earned a juris doctor degree in 2015 and was admitted to the practice of law in 2015. Ms. Cabonor has a primary focus on family law over the last 5 years, providing legal representation in Pennsylvania for a variety of different issues. Ms. Cabonor was selected to Rising Stars for 2018 - 2020.

Dr. S is here this week with a special guest, Robin Frank, Esq. to chat about co-parenting and communications! They discuss the ways co-parents choose to communicate - good, bad, or ugly - as well as the number of different resources available to help co-parents communicate better. You'll hear them discuss the "Do's" and "Don'ts" of co-parenting communication, share some examples, and Attorney Frank will give some sage advice on how and how NOT to address your co-parent. The most important take-aways this week: compassion, perspective, empathy, and "just be niiiice!" Grab your bevy of choice, press play, and get ready to level-up your co-parenting!

Robin Frank, Esq. concentrates her practice in several different areas, with a primary focus on family law over the last 13 years.  Ms. Frank's experience involves handling family law cases throughout Western Pennsylvania, including divorce, property distribution, support, custody, grandparents’ rights, adoptions, and protection from abuse matters.  She also devotes part of her practice to related issues such as prenuptial agreements, juvenile dependencies, guardianships, estate planning, and appellate court proceedings.

Drs. S & J are back after a two-week hiatus to talk about what happens when the co-parenting dynamic changes and you're faced with some tough decisions! This week, they discuss the various sources of their (daily) arguments over the last few weeks, their different perspectives on their own co-parenting relationship, and a bunch of emotions in between. After Dr. S introduces Dr. J to a close friend, things become too complicated, all dynamics involved seem to shift, and Dr. J wants to poll the viewers after Dr. S takes a step back from both relationships. You'll hear how this situation caused the docs to go back to co-parenting therapy after two years, attempting to navigate a venn diagram of friendships and emotions, ultimately faced with some difficult decisions to ensure their daughter is left unaffected. The most important messages to come across this week is that co-parenting is continuous work, both parties have to sacrifice at one point or another along the way, and the docs are not unlike the folks they are trying to support from week-to-week. It hasn't been easy, it wasn't pretty, and it was downright SUPS uncomfortable at times, AND they made it to the 10th episode and are REALLY happy to be able to share their messy journey this week. Grab your bevy of choice, press play, and get ready to level-up your co-parenting!

The docs are here this week to talk about the various kinds of sh*t co-parents disagree on at different households. Should Timmy have an iPad? Should 10-year-old Suzie be able to have a cellphone? When is it okay to call these kiddos when they're with the other parent - on exchange day? Non-exchange day? When should children go to sleepovers (if ever)? They reminisce about all the things they disagreed on during their separation and divorce and how they handled it with grace...absolutely no driveway arguments (LOL). So...Grab your bevy of choice, press play, and get ready to level-up your co-parenting!

Drs. S & J are back this week to discuss how COVID has put additional strain on parents choosing sports and extracurriculars this year.  They go over why being less stubborn will make you happier, give you more time with your kiddo,  and how they managed to get their shit together so their daughter could do the activities she wanted, when she wanted. S & J go back and forth on what they experienced, some "strongly worded emails," and both give some anecdotal guidance on how to learn from their mistakes. Grab your bevy of choice, press play, and get ready to level-up your co-parenting!

Note: S & J did some playing around with mic choices this week...once you're past the first 6min, 30sec, it doesn't sound like Dr. S is screaming into a mic any longer 

Drs. S & J are back this week to talk about ALL of the uncertainty surrounding the 2020/2021 school year! They debate how gender roles play a part in couples deciding who will stay at home with two working parents, how COVID fatigue has been a real thing for them and those around them, and how they managed to decide who's doing what with who and where and when! Dr. S whips out their daughter's 1st grade "Rules," as she remembers that we, herself included, could all learn a little bit from the K - 5 grade handbook on how to handle life and they both give some anecdotal guidance on how to navigate these "unprecedented" (barf) times with your co-parent! As the school year approaches for many of us, may the odds be ever in your favor! Grab your bevy of choice, press play, and get ready to level-up your co-parenting!

Drs. J & S are back this week to discuss dating while co-parenting. And no, not THEM dating while co-parenting - as Dr. J makes abundantly clear! They talk about getting back into the dating scene after separation, how the landscape looked different, how dating itself is very different after having a kid, and how they stumbled through the first few attempts. There's no fun driveway arguments in this episode BUT! you will hear some horror stories of navigating online dating, weeding through folks who may or may not understand their co-parenting relationship, if they've given up on dating completely, and sharing how they came to agreements on how to integrate potential partners into their daughter's life eventually. Grab your bevy of choice, press play, and get ready to level-up your co-parenting!

This week, Drs. J & S are here to talk about family! The functional, dysfunctional, intact, post-separation, extended....you get the picture. They'll share some of their struggles with family dynamics, how they managed emotions, different personalities, and how their own families and extended families somehow manage to function for co-parenting. Oh, and more tales from the driveway (if that driveway could talk...). This episode is full of laughs, they'll share some tips, and shed some light on how you can hopefully do the same someday. Grab your bevy of choice, press play, and get ready to level-up your co-parenting!

Drs. S & J got SO much great feedback about their inaugural episode (thank you!). They wanted to put out a second version with less BS and more content. SO! Relax as they take you through their personal (and public!) divorce and co-parenting journey (again). They share the same myths, facts, debauchery, and how they somehow pulled it all together to be better parents for their daughter and enjoy the friendship before you today - on what would be their 8th wedding anniversary. They continue to hope their shared experiences will help folks going through similar issues. So grab your bevy of choice, press play, and get ready to level-up your co-parenting!