Mediation and Reconciliation

     Only two times in almost 300 mediations have I seen reconciliation. The first took place in 2009 when I worked in the courthouse. I conducted a family divorce mediation, left the room to make copies of the signed agreement and when I returned, the parties were making out. I stood in the doorway until they were done and when they finished and I returned, they asked me if they HAD to file the papers with the court. I told them that the papers were theirs to do with as they pleased. If they wanted to file and move forward, then they could. If they wanted to hold off and see what happens, then they could. I don't know what ever happened to that couple, but it made for an interesting day and a great story. 

     The second took place in December of 2010. The parties were never married but they had a child together. Things apparently were tense and bad enough that an attorney, the court and a mediator had to get involved to set up a time sharing schedule and set up child support. The father retained an attorney and the mother was representing herself. In the beginning, the mediation was VERY tense as it was visibly apparent that the parties could not get along. As I conducted the mediation and helped the parties break down the walls and begin to communicate, the tone of the mediation changed and the mood of the parties changed too. By the end of the session, the father spoke of hope of maybe getting back together with the mother. The mother scoffed and said she didn't think so, but in less than 2 hours I was able to establish a parenting plan and set up child support and the parties were then on their way. I received an exit survey from the parties thanking me for the great job I had done in helping them settle their disputes. In February 2011, I came to find out that the parties not only began dating a few weeks after the mediation session, but the parties are now engaged and getting married.

     I am a Family Mediator. I specialize in family issues and 99% of the time it is to dissolve a marriage or relationship and conduct either a divorce or paternity mediation that results in the parties going their separate ways and beginning a new life apart. I, like most people, like happy endings though. When I get to play a role in the dispute and the parties come together and form a family or keep the family together rather than the destruction of the family unit, It makes me really happy that I have been blessed with such a career. Many mediators view mediation as a job. For most, it's a way to simply pay the bills. For me, it's what I have been created to do on this planet. I AM a Professional Peacemaker. I AM a Conflict Resolution Specialist. Mediation is not what I do, but it is who I am. I AM a Family Mediator. 

iChat Mediation invites you to come and learn more about having either your divorce conducted by one of our State Supreme Court Certified mediators or how you can become part of the most cutting edge virtual companies in the world. To learn more visit us online at http://www.ichatmediation.com or call us at 877-822-1479.

In the words of Lawton Chiles, “I didn’t come to stay, I came to make a difference.”