Since the 1970s policy-makers and advocates for mothers, fathers, and children have attempted to remedy some of the inherent problems of divorce through public policy. This legislation has taken the form of mandated mediation, legal presumptions for particular custodial arrangements, child support orders, divorce education programs for parents, and parenting plans. Despite this movement, however, there has never been a comprehensive assessment of such policies or their effectiveness. This book provides that evaluation.

Two families, one solidly middle-class American and the other undocumented Mexican immigrants, face an uncertain future. No ones job is safe, and no paycheck is ever guaranteed. They both live in a maelstrom of uncertainty. The rule of law has yielded to the flux of opportunism. While the OConnell family struggles with an arrogant boss and adolescent upheavals, the Riveras cope with fear of the cartels and worries over deportation and teenage missteps. Despite initial misgivings and differences, the two families unite at least for a while, but how long will that while last?

Many of us go through life making choices that we think are 'our choices', but they are not. They are choices that we have been conditioned to make. So when we decide not to speak to someone, we think it is our choice. We do not realise that we have been influenced by someone else, by some toxic belief system that we hold, or by some toxic environment we grew up in. Empowerment Broken Families:How to get rid of toxic people and live a purposeful life is aimed at empowering you, not the toxic person that has a noose on your neck, to solve your problems and live your life in a purposeful way. This is very important because it takes a lot of financial, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual energy to reach your goal, so you have to run with those people who nurture you, not drain you. What is the main message in the book? The main message in this book is that, in order to deal with toxic people, you have to change, not them, and live with no resentment. No matter how people have treated you in the past, if you live with resentment and pain, you are adding to the toxicity that you are trying to run away from. There are no justified resentments in life. You have to let go of resentments. If you carry around resentments inside you, about anything or about anyone, those resentments will end up harming you. They will create a sense of despair in you. Practical tools The book ends with practical tools that can help you to move from toxic relationships with family members and friends to a truly purposeful and successful life. From the back cover Toxic relationships are relationships with people that always criticise you and always finding fault. All they can do is exploit your weaknesses and remind you of the mistakes you made in the past. These people are bad for your health. Toxic relationships are more painful if they happen to be with family members. This amazing book explains why and how to deal with toxic family members and friends. Reviews "This book is a definite game changer" - Martin D. Cole, Motivational speaker "This book is essential reading for all coaches and inspirational leaders." - Professor John Muridzo, London South Bank University

Families are experiencing a lack of presence of men and women who have abandoned their families and homes, thus leaving a single parent to raise their children. The Bible reveals that man is the head of the household, but a complete family consists of a mother and father. Children always rely on their parents for guidance in life. Married couples must think twice before starting a family.

Real solutions to a hidden epidemic: family estrangement. Estrangement from a family member is one of the most painful life experiences. It is devastating not only to the individuals directly involved--collateral damage can extend upward, downward, and across generations, More than 65 million Americans suffer such rifts, yet little guidance exists on how to cope with and overcome them. In this book, Karl Pillemer combines the advice of people who have successfully reconciled with powerful insights from social science research. The result is a unique guide to mending fractured families. Fault Lines shares for the first time findings from Dr. Pillemer's ten-year groundbreaking Cornell Reconciliation Project, based on the first national survey on estrangement; rich, in-depth interviews with hundreds of people who have experienced it; and insights from leading family researchers and therapists. He assures people who are estranged, and those who care about them, that they are not alone and that fissures can be bridged. Through the wisdom of people who have "been there," Fault Lines shows how healing is possible through clear steps that people can use right away in their own families. It addresses such questions as: How do rifts begin? What makes estrangement so painful? Why is it so often triggered by a single event? Are you ready to reconcile? How can you overcome past hurts to build a new future with a relative? Tackling a subject that is achingly familiar to almost everyone, especially in an era when powerful outside forces such as technology and mobility are lessening family cohesion, Dr. Pillemer combines dramatic stories, science-based guidance, and practical repair tools to help people find the path to reconciliation.