For recently divorced or separated mums Mother’s Day might be an upsetting and poignant reminder that family life has undergone substantial upheaval and change.

Whenever and wherever it is celebrated across the globe, the day is important to highlight the importance of those who nurture children. This is something we champion at Jones Myers LLP, where we advocate that children’s best interests always come first.

In the countdown to Mother’s Day, here are some tips to help make the most of the occasion:

1.  Plan in advance, and talk to your ex. If they usually see the children on Sunday, ask them if you could swap arrangements for this week. A flexible parenting plan can go a long way to diffusing potential arguments over special days.
2. If you are with the children on that day – and your separation is recent – avoid pressurising them to celebrate, as they may need time to come to terms with the new arrangements. A more subtle way would be to do something on the day that you will all enjoy.
3. If you are not with your children on Mother’s Day, indulge yourself with something special to mark it – and remember the vital role you play. This could also include a group event with other single parents.
4. To make up for not spending the day with your children, create a ‘new’ mother’s day the next time you are together – the occasion does not have to be dictated by the official calendar date.

Irrespective of what day of the year it is, the best environment for parents to raise children is when both of them play a key role in their development – whether they are still living together or not. Our dedicated Children Department witnesses the immense value to children of maintaining a quality relationship with both parents.

That is why we advocate mediation, arbitration and collaborative family law to help couples achieve an amicable solution in the event of a relationship breakdown.

If you have any comments, queries or concerns on children, divorce or family law related issues, leave a comment below, call the team at Jones Myers on 0113 246 0055 or tweet us on @helpwithdivorce

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Fiona Kendall and Peter Jones

Five lawyers at Jones Myers LLP will be recommended as “leaders in their field” in the 2014 edition of Chambers, the illustrious legal industry bible, to be published in October.

The preview comes as the firm, described previously by Chambers as “utterly brilliant”, celebrates a successful year of expansion and national media profile, consolidating our position as a leading Yorkshire and London Home Counties family law practice.

Richard Peaker

Our colleagues who will once again be rated by the prestigious legal guide are the firm’s founder Peter Jones, a qualified mediator and arbitrator who was ranked in the top tier of Chambers 2013 and partner Richard Peaker, also a top ranked individual in the current directory and credited for his work on ancillary relief and nuptial agreements.

Martin Holdsworth

In a milestone in our plans to expand our private client services Jones Myers appointed Martin Holdsworth – a specialist in handling contentious trusts and estates – as partner earlier this year. Martin will again be listed as a key individual in Chambers for specialising in contentious private client matters.  Under Martin’s expert guidance the private clients’ team is growing with new appointments planned over the coming months.

Norman Taylor

Fiona Kendall and Norman Taylor, who were praised by Chambers last year for their expertise in cohabitation and financial matters, will also feature as “leaders in their field” in the next edition of the legal directory.

In recent months Kate Banerjee, head of our children’s department has been called on by the national print and broadcast media to talk about the increase in parental child abductions and in particular the heart wrenching case of our client Naomi Button.  In our South of England office experienced family lawyer and mediator David McHardy has been raising the firm’s profile with regular blogs in Essex Life.

David McHardy

It is a real privilege to be rated so highly Chambers and we are proud of every member of our talented team who helps us to maintain our standards and ethos. As the first firm in West Yorkshire to dedicate itself exclusively to family law, Jones Myers is delighted to be celebrating more than 20 years at the top of the tree.

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