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View Things From "The Little Chair"

Most people - going through a divorce or not - would agree that there are usually two sides to every story. In the case of divorce and child conflict, you may want to consider that there are at least three sides or viewpoints to every story.

Think of three chairs - two large chairs and a very small one in between the two larger ones. His (the father's), her's (the mother's) and their's (the children's). Whenever you're faced with a difficult custody problem, try to understand and identify the solution from the prospective of the "little" chair. Remember the Massachusetts' standard: The Best Interest of the Minor Children.

When children are involved, it is most often necessary to let go of your own position to fully appreciate the situation as experienced by the children. If you have come to the conclusion that you and the children's views are exactly the same, consider that it is even possible that they feel pressured to side with you. Such alliances are often expressions of co-parent conflict. You will find that the best solutions will be those that serve the needs of the children as seen from "the little chair!"

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Do You Have a Cheating Spouse?

Unfortunately, infidelity crops up among couples of every age group, financial demographic and ethnic group, says private investigator Julia Hareley Moore in her book Infidelity Sleuth. While betrayed women often remain committed, the accompanying stress can take years off your life. Here are common signs of infidelity from a male spouse:


    1. Something Different. One morning he may wear a shirt he doesn't normally wear to work and he'll say, "Well, it was the first thing I grabbed" or "Everything else was in the laundry basket." While you might put that aside for a moment, that's the kind of change in behavior that starts someone thinking that there may be a problem.

    2. Changes in behavior: All of the sudden, out of the blue, he decides, "My God, I've got to lose weight. Look at the state of me. I better start going to the gym. Gee, I should change my hair style. I might just change what I am wearing." These are commons signs that he may have met somebody. They're also common neon signs going off to any wife.

    3. Mobile Love. It's another neon sign going off...the first thing someone will do when they're having an affair is their mobile phone, Treo, or BlackBerry becomes like a baby. They're constantly checking it.

    4. A cheater is always busy. Is there a certain day of the week that you can't get in touch with him? Or are there certain days when business meetings always pop up later in the evening? Start checking if he's where he says he is.

    5. The Money Trail: Someone who is cheating emotionally may also be cheating financially. If they feel something isn't right emotionally, they need to get their hands on the bank records, credit card statements, and even the cell phone records.

    6. Cheating can happen with men or women. Just as many women betray as men, but they usually don't get caught. Women are usually better liars and they have a plan.

    7. Is it Detective Time? If you have a good idea that something is going on, let surveillance prove it. Using a private detective takes away some of the stress and strain of the hunt. Plus, suspicious spouses tend to worry too much about getting caught.


Other clues may tip you off as well. Be on the look-out for:

  • Accidental slip-ups on the part of your spouse or someone else. These can clue you into what's been happening behind your back.

  • Hang up calls or someone saying they have the wrong number.

  • Unusual items in the ashtray or car seat. Also pay attention to changes in the position of the passenger seat of any family cars.

  • Requests for your schedule or itinerary more often than usual.

  • Mutual friends start acting strangely toward you. (They either know about an affair or have been told stories about what a horrible spouse you are)

  • New e-mail accounts or screen names begin to appear on the home computer.

  • Incoming calls are deleted from the caller ID device or incoming e-mails are deleted as they accumulate.

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