With Your Family in Mind

 As a kid, I remember watching shows on television that depicted families relaxing and sitting around, playing games and just spending quality time together on a daily basis.  In our real life, these moments come not so often and are usually sandwiched between doing homework, running to a...

Spring has always been a special time for me and my family. Growing up in South Africa, we were fortunate to have a big garden with fruit trees and a wide array of vegetables. Some of my earliest memories was going through the garden with my grandparents, picking, planting, and learning the ins...

The City of Santa Clarita’s Camp Clarita is currently accepting registration for the 2016 summer program. Online and walk-in registration for programs from June 13 through August 5, 2016 is now being accepted. Camp Clarita is a day camp experience that provides recreational fun and creative...

 Now happily running the largest laundry in the valley, Santa Clarita Laundry Center, Owner Art Jaeger took a winding path to discover his love of entrepreneurship and his talent for anticipating undiscovered markets. “I spent 23 years in the music industry as a label executive,” Jaeger said. ...

 No two marriages are the same, and so it only follows that no two divorces will be the same either, hence the following four broad categories of divorce alternatives: Do-It-Yourself (DIY), Mediation, Collaborative and Litigation. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each one....

 Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter was quoted: “There are only four kinds of people in the world. Those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers… and those who will need caregivers.” The Age Tsunami, or as some call it, the Silver Tsunami, is...

 In California Family Law, there are five “states” relating to individuals and couples: “single”, “married”, “partners”, “separated” or “divorced”. There are two types of separation, the first, a legal separation is obtained using the same Judicial Council Forms used for a divorce (a different...

 There are two types of support in California.  One is child support and the other is spousal support.  There are two types of orders in California dissolution cases.  One is a temporary order during the pendency of the case, called a pendente lite order.  And the other is an order after...

 I provide couples therapy with the motto that a relationship doesn’t need to be issue free to be successful. Instead, the definition of a healthy relationship is one where the partners can identify their issues, agree upon them, and can productively discuss them. I also strongly believe that...

 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans age 65 and older will double in the next 20 years.  This means that: 1. Millions of adult children will be exposed to the demands of care giving as their parents age; and 2. Spouses will become caregivers to each other due to the...

 Allan and Barry Client were twin brothers who lived in Ventura. Longtime business partners, they sold their manufacturing company, cashed out and retired by the time they were in their late sixties. Neither had ever married, and neither had children. When they were 70, each did his estate...

 Do you have a young child who is a picky eater? Young kids often do things that seem like picky eating. They are trying to do more for themselves, and they want to do things their way.  They may refuse to eat a certain food, or not eat much on some days. This is temporary, and it’s a normal...

 “Life is like an onion.  You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.” – Carl Sandburg On the surface divorce is a legal process.  Armies of specialists may jump in (attorneys, mediators, and other experts).  There’s no stigma to using these specialists – in fact many believe...

 As we settle into this festive season of grace, fresh air, spring cleaning and blossoming trees, we say “hello to newness and creation.” It is no coincidence that this is the time that we witness more weddings, showers, graduations and festivals.  It’s a time of new beginnings, accomplishments...

Have you ever thought of becoming a foster parent or wanted to adopt a child in need of permanency? Koinonia Family Services is now serving the Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys, and is looking for families who want to provide safe, caring, and nurturing homes for children who are in need...

 Making the decision to move our parent or loved one into an assisted living community doesn’t need to be difficult if we approach the challenge in a positive way. For our parents, they are accustomed to being independent and maintaining their own homes.  The thought of leaving a beloved home...

 For seniors, a good night’s rest can mean time for the body and mind to recover, more energy to tackle the day and enhanced concentration and mental alertness.  Yet, many older adults struggle with falling or staying asleep. To help combat this problem, we share five valuable sleeping tips for...

 The amount you can deduct on your taxes as a result of buying long-term care insurance has been increased by the IRS for 2016.  If you itemize your deductions, you can generally claim a deduction if your premiums, together with your other unreimbursed medical expenses, amount to more than 10...