Family Ever After Blog

Family Ever After Blog

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Make Weekend Meals Easy With Beef Delicacies

Weekends are like a short breath of fresh air in our busy schedules. Hence, weekend dining must be a special party as it brings the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy time with the people we love. Families get to eat brunches together; friends get together and eat long meals together that carry on till late at night. Busy working couples get to organize a little treat for each other. The setting is just perfect, but what are you planning to cook?

Going for beef recipes could be a great idea! Here are some easy beef recipes that could make your weekend delicious.

1. Porterhouse steaks with onion gravy-

Who doesn’t love a steak! This steak recipe lets you keep it simple with a mouthwatering tender steak enveloped in velvety sweet onion gravy. You could prepare this gravy with the traditional gravy mix that easily available in your local supermarket. Since this cut has no bone, it is easy to cook and 5 minutes on the grill, gives this steak the perfect cook. For choices of starch- mashed potatoes, shoestring potatoes or sweet potato fries could work well. Veggies like snow peas, green beans, broccoli, and squash elevate this dish perfectly.

2. Cheesy Fiesta Beef Casserole-

Casseroles are ideal for big family weekend meals. You can prepare it before the gathering and serve it in the same dish too. They include crowd-pleasing ingredients like mouth-melting beef, nachos and lots of cheese, yummy! All you need to do is cook beef and onion for 6-8 minutes and then stir in beans, Picante sauce, and a little chilli powder. Then mix in a can of soup and tomatoes. Put the mix in a microwave dish and top in up with sharp cheddar, Monterey jerk cheese, and your favourite nachos. Microwave for 12 minutes and there you go!

3. Beef sausage pasta bake-

Be it a simple family dinner, a kid’s birthday party or a romantic candlelight dinner, a combination of sausage and pasta could never fail you. Make a weekend meal fun with this super easy yet irresistible pasta dish. This is a baked recipe so one could prepare it in stages days in advance. Make meatballs out of your favourite beef sausage, fry them in a skillet and add your favourite pasta sauce in the same skillet. As the sauce simmers, add cooked pasta. Arrange in a baking dish with cheese and bake till the cheese gets all gooey.

4. Mongolian Beef-

This oriental and balanced recipe is easy to make and packed with great flavours. The great thing is that it needs less than 30 minutes to cook and maybe even lesser to polish. This beef dish is crisp, sweet and tasteful. For this preparation, you need to prepare cornstarch coated flank steak pieces first. Sauté some ginger and garlic in a pan, add soy sauce, water and dark brown sugar and bring it to boil. Then add the steak and let your sauce thicken and the punchy curry will be ready in 20 minutes.

5. Spicy beef mince with Jasmine rice:

Pasta dishes not fun for you anymore, why not try this ricey- spicy beef mince that gets ready in less than half an hour? All that you need to do is cook your minced beef and dry up the water and then temper it with ginger, garlic, capsicum, broccoli, soy sauce, honey, and gochujang paste. We can replace Gochujang paste with sambal paste; both the ingredients are easily available at the grocery stores. Serve this flavorful dish on the bed of fragrant steamed Jasmine rice for pure pleasure. You could brown rice instead if you are looking for more fibre.

Happy weekend. Happy cooking!

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Smart Reasons to Try a Lesbian Dating App

The popularity of dating apps has dramatically increased over the years, and for good reason too. Dating apps make it easy to find that special someone using only your smartphone or other smart digital devices.

With the advancement of technology, a majority of individuals are glued to their phone screens most of the time, which means using this platform will surely increase your chances in your quest for love or fun.

If you’re having second thoughts about joining a lesbian dating app, then be sure to read on as this article will discuss some smart reasons on why you should try one.

Saves Time 

Going out on blind dates and visiting the club or the bar takes time because of all the preparations needed. You need to sort out your clothes, wear your favourite perfume, and if you want to look your best, you need to put on makeup. This is because applying makeup makes women appear more beautiful, according to an article by the Daily Mail.

Aside from all the preparation, you still need to drive or ride a taxi towards the location, which takes up too much time, especially if you get stuck in traffic. Fortunately, dating apps provide a solution to this problem.

You can chat with your prospect match and talk about all the important details before even meeting them in person. You can gauge whether you want to meet them or not by sitting at home itself.

More Convenient Option

Using a dating app saves time and is undoubtedly the more convenient method. You can be lying in bed wearing your pyjamas and not wearing any makeup while eating ice cream and can still find someone that you like.

Be Discrete

Some individuals are conservative when it comes to finding a date in public, and there are also individuals from the LGBTQ community who would like to keep their sexual preferences as a secret. The use of dating apps is the perfect way for these individuals as it can help them be discrete when finding a partner. You can easily find a lesbian dating app for members of the LGBT community.

An Affordable Method for Dating

Finding a potential partner or someone you like in public does not only spend your time but your resources as well. Going to the bar requires you to spend money on your taxi fare or gas money. When you’re in the bar, you will need to order drinks as well. Do this a couple of days in a month, and you will realise how much money you spend on finding your soulmate.

Finding a partner through a dating app is not only convenient, but it’s also a far more affordable option. The reason is that some dating apps are free to use and you only need to pay for particular upgrades.

More Options

Going to the bar or the club and expecting that you will find someone who exactly fits your checklist is like finding a needle in a haystack. There is no assurance that you will meet an individual who fits the bill, and more often than not, you will be disappointed.

Thousands of individuals use dating apps, which means you can have more options and chances to find people who share the same hobbies and interests as you. You can even join a gender-based app such as a Pink Sofa, which is a lesbian dating app, to find people who share the same sexual preference as you.

You might have second thoughts in joining a dating app because you might be thinking you might get judged for it. Dating apps are no longer taboo since almost everyone is into it already.

For every day you don’t join a dating app, you’re missing out on the opportunity in finding that special someone in your life.

Author – Joan Gray

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Why a Bag Tag for Your Kids is Not a Frivolous Expense

Those who are on a limited budget raise their eyebrows at buying cute and personalised bag tags for young kids. Isn’t this just a frivolous expense when you can just write their names with a marker just like what the moms of the older generation did back in the day? Some feel it is unnecessary to spend more money on such a non-essential item. But, hold it right there! These cute tags for your kids’ bags are not just vanity but a necessity. Here is why you need to buy a bag tag for your kids.

Easy Identification

With a personalised bag tag, you can have your child’s name, home address, and contact information displayed. You can also add the name of their school or class section if you want. Because a bag tag is made of durable materials, all this information will not be easily rubbed off or erased. This bag tag can help your child keep track of his or her items throughout the school year. In case anything gets lost, people can return stuff to you right away.

Helps Them Stand Out

Having customised bag tags will help make your kids’ tag stand out. Most children who go to school end up with identical-looking bags. It is not uncommon for a child to take the wrong bag home. How annoying it is when that happens because your kids cannot do homework!

With their own bag tags, they can spot their school bag from afar and prevent these mistakes. Apart from the school bag, it is also a great inclusion to your child’s luggage because bag tags can easily be seen from the airport bag carousel.

Allows Expression of Personality

There is a broad range of design, colours, characters, shapes, and sizes to choose from when making personalised bag tags. Allowing your kids to pick and create their own bag tag helps them express their personalities. They can be as creative as they want when selecting their beautiful aesthetic combinations. They can even choose fonts and what words to include. By allowing them to help with the selection process, you are fostering their imagination.

Cultivates a Strong Sense of Responsibility

When you allow your child to help with the bag tag selection, you are keeping them engaged and empowering them to protect their belongings. As a result, they feel more invested in their things. Choosing these simple tags together actually cultivates a strong sense of responsibility in your children. When they see these hanging on their bags, they feel proud of being a part of the design process and the urge to protect their personal belonging is heightened.

Offers Value for Money

If you are indecisive about buying bag tags, know that these premium quality items are well-made and offer you excellent value for money. They are actually not even expensive to start with, and you can pick something that suits your budget. Kids love personalised stuff, so these make great gifts, too, because they are beautiful and functional.

Final Word

As you can see, bright-coloured bag tags are not just frivolity. They are a necessary purchase to include in your children‘s arsenal. You won’t regret getting custom bag tags because these are waterproof, durable, and made to withstand harsh conditions. The only thing you must decide now is which one to get. Have a great bag-tag-bonding moment with your kids by designing stuff together!

Author: Anna James

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Quality Skin Care Serums Don’t Have to Cost a Fortune

People often shy away from skincare because of two major reasons. They believe it’s time consuming and it costs a lot of money. While certain women tend to spend more time than necessary on their skincare regime, it’s not a time consuming process once you narrow down the right steps. You also don’t need to invest in multiple products that break the bank. A few tried and tested skincare products is all it takes to get flawless, camera ready skin. If you’re wondering what you need to do in order to save money when purchasing skin serums and other skincare products and how you can look good without going broke, here are a few handy tips that might help.

Follow The Right Skincare Routine

To have healthy, glowing, radiant skin, all you need to do is find a good skincare regime that suits you. Irrespective of what products you use, you should remember to scrub in order to take out all the impurities, use a good skincare serum to help nourish your skin and provide it with the right TLC and moisturize. There are various products available in the market that are affordable and work wonders on your skin. If you thought that oily skin should not use a serum, then you may want to consider using the best vitamin c serum for oily skin. This serum helps unclog those pores and doesn’t give you a greasy feeling even when you wear it all day.

Follow The Right Lifestyle

Beauty comes from within and if you want healthy skin, you need to lead a good healthy lifestyle too. This includes eating plenty of green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits, drinking loads of water and getting the right amount of sleep. Avoiding too much caffeine and nicotine can also work wonders on your skin.

Massages Are Important

In order for your skin to have good elasticity and a youthful glow, regular massages are necessary. While facials could cost a fortune, the dermaroller proves to be a cost-effective and highly beneficial alternative to massages.

Invest In The Right Products

The market is loaded with cosmetic products for you to choose from. It’s normal to believe that the more expensive the product, the better its results. This, however, is a myth. Instead of looking for the more expensive products, look for products that are tried and tested or the ones that have good reviews. If you don’t have time to go to the market to check out timeless skin care products, you can always purchase them online.

Your skincare regime should always be simple, hassle-free and quick. The longer the skincare process, the less likely you are to stick to it on a daily basis. You should also remember to continue using the same skin care products that have proven to be effective for you since this will help enhance the quality of your skin and you will be less likely to go in for cosmetic procedures just so you can look younger.

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Tips to Take Care of Your Eyeglasses

Finding eyeglasses that are perfect for your face can take a lot of time. Now that you have them, you just want to do everything necessary to make them last. It’s a good thing that even first-class eyeglasses, such as those that are available from 1001 Optical Premium Glasses, are not that hard to take care of.

Let’s take a look at some of the things that you may do to take care of your eyeglasses:

Rinse or Spray Before You Wipe

The lenses of eyeglasses come in various materials. They include polycarbonate, high-index plastic, and glass. Each one of the materials comes with advantages and disadvantages. Glass is the strongest of the bunch. However, it is not impervious to scratches.

No matter the material, remember to rinse the lenses off with water before wiping them. This helps remove dust that can scratch the surface.

Use the Right Kind of Eyeglass Cleaner

Some people choose to use an eyeglass cleaner on the lenses of their glasses. This product is available at optical shops. You may also use a homemade version of it. You can make it by combining water, rubbing alcohol, and a little dishwashing soap.

Whether purchased in an optical shop or homemade, make sure that you use the right eyeglass cleaner. Refrain from using a household glass or surface cleaner on your eyeglasses.

Reach for a Microfiber Cloth

Avoid using any cloth for drying the lenses of your eyeglasses after rinsing them off with water or spraying them with an eyeglass cleaner. The right cloth for the job is a microfiber cloth, which is what experts highly recommend for cleaning lenses.

Even though tissue paper or the tail of your cotton shirt feels soft, using it for wiping may leave tiny scratches on the lenses of your eyeglasses.

Keep Eyeglasses in Their Proper Cases

When purchasing reputed brands like 1001 Optical Premium Glasses, the customers receive their eyeglasses inside hard cases. Do not throw yours away as this hard case from the optical shop is where you should keep your eyeglasses when they’re not in use.

Placing your eyeglasses in its hard case when you are not wearing them helps to keep the dust at bay. It also helps protect them from damage due to falls.

Do Not Leave Them in Hot Areas

High temperatures can cause plastic eyeglass frames or the plastic components of metal frames to warp. This is why you should refrain from leaving your eyeglasses on areas where it’s hot. One example is the dashboard of your car in the middle of the day.

Avoid placing your eyeglasses near appliances that give off heat. Some common examples are a desk lamp, computer, television, radiator, and microwave oven.

Hold Your Eyeglasses Correctly

Your eyeglasses can be of service for a long time simply by handling them properly. When cleaning the lenses, hold your eyeglasses by firmly grasping with your fingers the piece that goes over the bridge of your nose. This can keep the frames from bending.

When putting on and taking off your eyeglasses, hold them with both hands. Using only one hand can cause misalignment that can affect your vision and looks, too.

Especially if the eyeglasses from 1001 Optical Premium Glasses or elsewhere are top of the line, do your best to take care of them. Follow the simple tips above to keep your eyeglasses out of harm’s way.

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Tips to Choose the Best Christmas Tree for 2020

A Christmas tree is an object that is in every family household all over the world during the Yuletide season where kids and kids at heart alike place their holiday presents, and Christmas won’t be the same without it. As that popular song goes, Christmas is truly the most beautiful time of the year. It is the time when people can enjoy feasting on scrumptious food, gift-giving, and family bonding. The festive and nostalgic feeling that the Christmas season brings is indescribable; it is because this season takes everyone back to the time of childhood bliss, no matter what age.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree 

What’s so special about a Christmas tree anyway? For one, most people use the fir tree, which is a type of an evergreen conifer tree that keeps its leaves all-year-round, unlike other deciduous trees that shed leaves all the time. Secondly, Christians believe that an evergreen tree symbolizes the everlasting life with God.

No one truly knows for sure as to when and where the first Christmas tree was used to celebrate Christmas, but it is said that it began during the 16th Century. During this time, a story was told that Martin Luther, a German preacher, was mesmerized by the magnificence of the stars that shone through the trees as he was walking within the forest one Christmas night. He shared this experience with his children and told them that it made him remember Jesus and how it felt as if He left heaven to visit Earth for Christmas. What a magical story.

 

Which is a Better Christmas Tree: Artificial or Real?

For the longest time, it has been every Christian family’s tradition to put up and decorate a Christmas tree during Yule. It is one of the best kinds of bonding between families or relatives. So how can you create the best Christmas tree this year? First off the list is to choose the type of tree that’s easily available. Several types of trees that are popularly used as Christmas trees are fir, spruce, cedar, cypress and pine. But what if a real tree is not available to you? There’s no need to fret, since there is another option, and that is by using an artificial one.

There are real advantages to choosing artificial trees over the real ones. One, it eliminates the hassles of travelling to the forest, cutting your tree, and carrying that massive thing over to your vehicle. Another advantage is that an artificial tree can be easily kept once Christmas time is over; it can simply be disassembled into several pieces and stored into a box. What a relief!

 

Where to Purchase a Christmas Tree and What are Some of the Options?

Hundreds of online websites are available that offer not only artificial Christmas trees with various types to choose from, but also Christmas ornaments and accessories such as bows, wreaths, and even a tree skirt. One can choose from the traditional and unconventional trees that can best suit your style and taste. For those who don’t like putting Christmas lights on your tree but still like the idea of lights on it, you can choose the ones with Fiber optics. Just plug it in and voila! It suddenly blinks to life! For people who don’t have enough space to put a giant Christmas tree, you can choose the potted ones instead. And finally, for families who love snow, you can purchase a snowy Christmas tree. Cool eh?

Christmas will always be magical no matter what, but it doesn’t hurt to spend extra time and effort when creating your Christmas tree. It’s something that can show a person’s personality and make the season more endearing to the whole family.

 

 

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Why Bring Your Little One to a Kids Early Learning Centre

Parents always want what is best for their children. As much as possible, they will give them the best care, shelter, and education. But they also know their responsibilities, so they need to go to work for a job or two. Where will the little children stay while their parents are away? Fortunately, a kids early learning centre is a good daycare option for them and their parents. It employs a combination of learning and babysitting at the same time, depending on the age of the child.

Parents are encouraged to enrol their children in an early learning facility. Aside from avoiding being left alone at home, there are other reasons why it is essential to do so.

Early Emotional and Social Development

Children have a natural distrust of people who are not part of their family circle. But for them to have faith in others, they need to start young. An early learning centre encourages emotional skills and engagement. Also, a child’s unexpected moments via interaction with different people can sometimes lead to frustrations and other negative emotions. It is the goal of the centre to develop the social skills of the child with the use of teachable moments without any embarrassment or punishment.

Preparing Kids for School

Have you ever heard of kids who take a step on to the school premises on the first day, then refuse to come back the day after? Some of those kids are scared of a big group of kids, and some are terrified of their teachers. So getting them into a kids early learning centre at an early age eliminates the possibility of crying sessions after the first school day. The children learn to nurture social relationships with the people around them – teachers and classmates included.

A kids learning centre also has highly trained staff that can assess the individual needs of the children they handle. From there, they can customise the learning program of a child. They see his existing skills, and they know if he is ready to learn a new one.

Having Fun and The Love of Learning at The Same Time

A young child should learn at school. Instilling the love of learning through the use of fun concepts happens at an early learning facility. Their curiosity is piqued by new things they see and feel. They also get to discover new things with their new peer group. Ideas and imaginations run wild, especially when the children play with one another. Props such as costumes and other toys start a spark in the active mind of a child.

Stimulates Language and Cognitive Skills

Young children quickly pick up words they hear from the people around them. Studies show that children between two to five years old grow their vocabulary from five hundred to almost three thousand words. The early learning centre teachers extend the language of the child by talking to him most of the time. Some activities foster both cognitive and language skills such as storytelling, describing the animals they like and singing nursery rhymes and other educational songs. Problem-solving abilities are enhanced in early childhood education to promote critical thinking when the child needs it the most.

Not all early learning facilities have tried-and-tested preschool programs. If you are on the lookout for one, make sure that the staff uses a balanced yet research-based approach when it comes to early childhood development.

 

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3 Things To Consider When Buying a Home

 

One of the most exciting parts of starting a family is creating memories together in your home. There are few things more sentimental then looking at your home years down the road and being reminded of precious moments of your children’s lives. However, before you can get started making memories, you’ll need to find the perfect home to buy.

The home buying process can be incredibly overwhelming if you don’t know the ins and outs. It’s easy to get confused with all of the conflicting information. It can be hard to weed out the solid advice from hearsay.

 

To help you during your home buying process, here are some of the most important things that you’ll need to consider when looking around.

 

Size

 

When it comes to your home, size certainly does matter, especially if you ever want to sell your home down the road.. It doesn’t make sense looking at a two-bedroom apartment if you’re a family of five. When deciding between going bigger or going smaller, it’s usually a good idea to go bigger.

The chances of you expanding as a family are greater in many cases. You want to make sure that you can comfortably stay in the home that you buy for years to come without having to move again. Therefore if you’re expecting to have more children soon, make sure you buy a house that can support that.

 

Neighborhood

 

As they say, location location location. When looking around at homes, it’s important that you investigate more than what meets the eye. Explore outside just the house for sale you’re looking at and take a look at the neighborhood.

 

What are the neighbors look like? What is the crime rate? Are there parks or grocery stores nearby that you may be able to benefit from? What’s the average price range in the neighboring houses, and will you feel comfortable in that environment? The neighborhood plays a huge role in how happy you’ll be in your home for the long term.

 

Proximity To Work

 

Even though driving 45 minutes to your job every day may not seem like a big deal now, it can start to get tedious as the years go by. When there’s traffic, you may add as much as an hour on to your commute, which can drain huge parts of your day. Even though your home may be a favorable price, you want to ask yourself whether the commute is really worth the savings.

 

In addition to proximity to work, you also want to make sure that it’s close enough to your children’s school and any activities you have to drive them to throughout the week. Take a look around for any bus stops and see if using public transportation may be an option as well.

 

 

 

 

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The Best Ways to Ease Your Family’s Transition to a New City

If you’re moving to a brand new city, you’re probably aware that it’s going to be a bit of a tough transition. It’s not easy to adapt to an entirely new culture, and even if the city’s still in the United States, you’re still going to confront new elements of a culture you probably don’t fully understand. How can you make it easier? Try out these tips to ease the transition a bit.

Determine Bus and Driving Routes Early

The last thing you want is for you or your child to get extremely confused on your way to school or work the first few weeks. Before you actually move to the new city, map out the bus and driving routes you’re going to have to go through every day.

This is a great way to make sure your family feels comfortable in the new city. After all, transportation is one of the most basic things you’ll want to master in your new city. You may want to travel these routes before you have to for work or school, so you can work out any issues you may otherwise have.

Research Local Clubs

Getting involved in local organizations is a great way to integrate into your new city. Not only does it give you and your kids things to do on a regular basis, it’s also a good way to meet new people in your new city as organically as possible.

Consider things you and your kids already enjoy doing. If you’re interested in science, for example, find out if there are any science center groups in your area. If you like doing crafts, look into local crafting groups. There are groups for just about every interest, so don’t be afraid to branch out.

Take a Day to Explore

When you first move to a new city, it’s going to be stressful. However, on the other hand, it can also be very exciting to be in a brand new space. That’s especially true if you’re willing to explore the area without a goal in mind.

Take a day to explore the area you’re living in now. Visit a few local hotspots, walk around your neighborhood, and take public transportation around the area. It’ll be a good way to integrate with your new hometown, especially if you don’t know much about it yet.

Reach Out to New Chapters of Old Organizations

Was your child part of the Girl Scouts in your old town? Did you volunteer at a nationwide organization? Chances are, that organization has chapters in your new area as well. Although it’s going to be a new group of people, the chapter will probably stick to similar concepts, which can be very helpful in establishing your new routine.

Many kids have a tough time adjusting to new cities and new homes because it means a brand new routine. Although the times and people may change in a new chapter, this can give a similar feeling as the old routine. That can be extremely helpful for you and your kids.

Learn More About Your Neighbors

Staying safe is another important part of becoming part of a new neighborhood. It’s important that you get more information about the people in your area. Learning more about your neighbors can make sure you stay safe while also becoming friends with those neighbors.

Especially if you’re hoping to help your kids become more comfortable with the new neighborhood, you want to make sure the neighbors you talk to are always safe. A people search engine like PeopleFinders is a good way for any layperson to get more information about neighbors in the area, including criminal records and other potential concerns.

Conclusion

It can feel daunting to become truly part of a new neighborhood. However, if you’re willing to put a little bit of effort into the situation, it’s not as difficult as it may seem. With these easy tips, you’ll be able to feel like a genuine part of your new neighborhood as soon as possible. Plus, it’ll be an easier transition for your kids as well.

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3 Tips For Working With Your Ex Through Your Divorce

Although you might have gotten married with the best of intentions, not all marriages can stand the test of time. In many cases, a marriage will end in an divorce. But even in this unfavorable situation, there are things you can do to leave your marriage in such a way that you and your former spouse don’t become mortal enemies who despise each other.

To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for working with your ex through your divorce.

Be Wise When Communicating

Your marriage likely ended because something within your relationship wasn’t working. In many instances, communication is one of these things. With this issue, working through your divorce with your spouse can be a challenge. But luckily, there are some things you can do to make this a little easier to manage.

According to Deanna Conklin-Danao, a contributor to Divorce Magazine, it’s best to keep your communication with your ex as brief and to-the-point as you can. While you should try to be friendly, you also don’t want to continue communicating in a way that makes you or your ex emotional about your marriage, as this could derail or complicate your divorce. Because of this, try to communicate only about issues regarding your divorce and discuss these issues in a productive way.

Set Clear And Healthy Boundaries

Just like with any relationship in your life, it’s wise to have clear and healthy boundaries between you and your ex as you work through your divorce together.

As part of this, Dr. Andra Prosh, a contributor to the Huffington Post, advises that you situate yourself in your relationship with your ex so that neither of you falls back into old patterns of behavior that created an unhealthy dynamic for the two of you. This might mean communicating only through your lawyers or otherwise steering clear of one another until you’ve had some time and distance from your relationship and can relearn how to safely be around each other.

Commit To Working Together When You Must

In some situations, there’s going to have to be continued communication after the marriage has dissolved, especially if you had children together.

In situations such as this, HelpGuide.org suggests that you and your ex commit to working together on issues regarding your kids. This likely includes being able to communicate and compromise with one another, even if this wasn’t your strong suit while you were married. By doing this, not only will you be able to maintain good parenting for your children, but you’ll also be able to maintain some peace in your life as well.

If you’re at the beginning stages of a divorce, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you successfully work through this with your ex.