Renae Lapin - School Days and the Divorce Maze: A Complete Guyide for Joint Custody Parents in Managing Your Childs Successful School Career

Frederick Fell Publishers, Inc.
2131 Hollywood Blvd.,Suite 305
Hollywood, FL 33020
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Published by Frederick Fell Publishers, Inc.,
2131 Hollywood Blvd. Suite 305 Hollywood, Florida 33020

Reproduction, translation, or use in any form by any means of any part of this work beyond that permitted by Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act without permission of the copyright owner is unlawful. Requests for permission of further information should be addressed to the Permissions department, Frederick Fell Publishers, Inc., 2131 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 305, Hollywood, Florida 33020.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. This book is not intended to replace the advice and guidance of a trained physician nor is it intended to encourage self-treatment of illness or medical disease. Although the case histories presented are true, all names of patients have been changed.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in Publication Data

Dr. Renae Lapin, LMFT 1955
School Days and the Divorce Maze: A Complete Guide for Joint Custody Parents in Managing Your Childs Successful School Career
p. cm.
ISBN 0-88391-162-0 (trade pbk.: alk paper)
1. Renae Lapin, 1955- 2. Family & Relationships: Divorce & Separation
LC5159. L37 2007
371.19/2 22

2007032859

10987654321

Copyright 2008 by Renae Lapin. All rights reserved.
Graphic Design: eDesignelena solis

eBook ISBN - 978-0-88391-556-1

Endorsements

a remarkable road map to guide families experiencing the trauma of divorce. It also provides a well marked path for those professionals who teach and care for children of divorce in the school systemthe stop signs, the obstacles, the hurdles and warning signs are conspicuously evident along the way. And for each known problem, situation, Dr. Lapin offers a negative and positive solutionher own personal experience and professional skills make this book a necessary assist in addressing the impact created by divorce on families and society.

Myra F. Levick, PhD, ATR-BC,
Author of See What Im Saying: What Children Tell Us Through Their Art

an invaluable resource for parents, teachers, school administrators, parent counselors and attorneys representing children of divorcecovers all the specifics providing divorced parents with much needed advice on the details of co-parenting for school related issues.

Elizabeth Thayer, Ph.D., Co-Author of
The Co-Parents Survival Guide: Letting Go of Conflict After a Difficult Divorce

This book is a wonderful resource for divorced parents to use in fostering positive school experiences for their child(ren) with a vision towards maximizing their potential the ultimate how-to manual with valuable information

Lesley Alfonso Ed.S., LMHC
Nationally Board Certified Guidance Counselor, Broward County, FL

Dr. Lapin poignantly captures the essence of the most significant issues raised by divorce from school supplies to graduation ceremony. Her answers to parents questions will help guide their children to overcome obstacles of divorce and grow into healthy adults. A much needed book. Bravo!

Elaine Jordan, R.N.
Assistant Community Health Nursing Director

well written, timely advice regarding school issues for divorced parents. Dr. Lapin emphasizes the best interests of the child and how to achieve them.

Judith Friedman, Ph.D.,
Coordinator Family Counseling Program
Broward County School Board

should be mandatory reading for all divorced parentsas well as school personnel who wish to help them. Dr. Lapin anticipates all the potential challenges affecting children of divorce and offers concise, caring and practical steps to ensure their emotional well-being.

Helene Sorcic, School Social Worker
Broward County Schools, FL

This is a must read for divorced parents with school age children. The book offers useful information to encourage both parents to be actively involved in their childs education. As an educator and a divorced parent of four, I found wonderful suggestions and solutions to daily issues that are encountered by divorced parents raising children together.

Michelle Nevis
Special Ed Teacher, Woodstock High School

A resource to help parentsDr. Lapin has written the definitive guide to dealing with how custody affects school issues with a down-to-earth, practical approach to each and every area that divorced parents deal with in their childrens schools. I would definitely recommend this book for my parents and have it in my library as a handy reference. Dr. Lapin has done a phenomenal job in the execution of this book.

Theresa K. Sullivan, M.S., NBCT
Guidance Counselor, Broward County School Board, FL

its about time someone wrote a how-to for divorced parentsjudges should have a stack to hand out upon divorcing the parents reminding them that they have not divorced their children. I thank you for the parents who will read and follow the advice writtenit sure will make our job easier.

Sherri Holzman, Principal
Randazzo School, Broward County, FL

an exceptional guide for both parents and teachersthe format of the book is very user friendly and it covers all the issues that parents must deal with while their child is in school. This book would be an excellent resource, which could be given to parents at conferences.

Phyllis Bloom
High School Teacher, Maryland

To: The hundreds of children and families with whom I have been honored to work with throughout my twenty-eight year career as a Family Therapist; and to my own family of which I am lucky to be a part of.

I wrote this book for use by divorced parents who share joint custody of their children. There is much advice published regarding the topic of divorce, parenting and education. Most contain little or no specific detailed advice as to how to manage the day to day school issues which become cumbersome for joint custody families. My work as a Family Therapist in a school setting often focused on these specific school issues. I noticed that when handled well by both parents, children flourished, exhibited a healthy self esteem, pride in their school and an interest in their education. Unfortunately, these school issues often became the battle ground or lightening rod for the conflict between the divorced couple. When that occurred, I witnessed children who were depressed, anxious and often completely devastated by a school experience.

As my career progressed, I too, became a joint custody divorced parent and struggled with the same difficult issues as my clients. I learned that schools are not equipped to respond to the needs of joint custody families and inadvertently place barriers for these children to develop a sense of comfort with their school.