Parenting Advisor - Online Parenting Programs

Divorce is hard. Divorce with children can feel even harder. If you are getting divorced in Maricopa County, Arizona, you may have questions about where to start, what forms you need, what happens to your children, and whether you need a lawyer. The good news is that there are many resources available to help you through the process. This guide explains the basic divorce process in Maricopa County when you have minor children, including court forms, parenting plans, mediation, legal help, and other resources. Important: This article is for general information only. It is not legal advice. Every family and every court case is different. Step 1: Learn What the Court Will Need You to Decide When children are involved,...

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant conversation for Arizona's justice system. It is here - and Arizona's courts are taking a deliberate approach to figuring out what that means. On August 27, 2026, the Arizona Supreme Court declined a request to temporarily prohibit judges from using generative artificial intelligence in their core judicial work. Instead, the Court chose to continue a careful, controlled approach to testing AI while developing appropriate safeguards and standards. But the Court drew an important line: AI cannot make legal rulings or judicial decisions. Decision-making remains a human responsibility. That distinction may be especially important in family law. Arizona Is Taking a Deliberate...

For parents with disabilities who are starting a small business, the hardest part is rarely the idea, it’s building something that survives in real life. Disability and parenting can bring entrepreneurial challenges that don’t fit standard advice: care routines that shift without warning, access needs that shape where and how work happens, and energy limits that make “hustle” a poor strategy. These realities can also sharpen decision-making, boundaries, and systems in ways many businesses learn only after burnout. Adaptive entrepreneurship makes flexible work a feature instead of a workaround. Inclusive business ownership is possible when the business is designed to fit the household, not the other way around. Plan and Launch a...

Gabriella Gething, Intern, Colorado State University With Judith A. Myers-Walls, Education Director, Able2Adjust/OnlineParentingPrograms.com Many families face tough transitions like financial stress, break-ups, or loss. The world can feel unsafe for your children at those times. In moments of deep stress, it is easy for you and your children to feel alone. You might feel like you carry the entire weight of the future on your shoulders. However, it might help to remember that your family already possesses a built-in safety shield called heritage. Heritage is not a boring history lesson. It is simply the beautiful tapestry of where you come from. This includes the regional customs of your hometown. It includes your cultural...

Working parents, single parents, and caregivers managing a household know how quickly family budgeting concerns turn into constant mental math. The core tension is simple and exhausting: keeping kids steady and supported while financial stress impact quietly raises parenting stress day after day. When bills, childcare costs, and unexpected expenses pile up, mental health challenges can show up as irritability, sleep trouble, dread, or feeling emotionally flat. None of this is a personal failure, it’s a predictable strain on the emotional wellbeing of parents. Why Money Stress Hits Parents So Hard When money feels uncertain, your brain treats it like a safety threat, not a spreadsheet problem. The stress response kicks in to help...

Iowa has a new option for resolving certain family law disputes. On July 1, 2026, Iowa's Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act took effect. The new law creates a framework for resolving certain family law disputes through arbitration instead of traditional litigation. If you're going through a divorce or custody case in Iowa, you may be wondering: What does this actually mean for me? Here's the simple version. First, what is family law arbitration? Arbitration is a process in which the parties agree to have a qualified neutral person (called an arbitrator) decide certain disputes. Instead of presenting the dispute through a traditional court trial, the parties present their case to the arbitrator under the procedures...

If you are going through a divorce, separation, or custody case in Iowa, you may have heard that the state's child support guidelines changed this year. The new Iowa Child Support Guidelines took effect January 1, 2026, following the Iowa Supreme Court's required review of the guidelines. The changes affect how child support is calculated, including the treatment of child care expenses, medical support, and the basic support schedule. Here's a simple look at what Iowa parents should know. What changed? The Iowa Supreme Court updated several parts of the state's child support guidelines. The most notable changes include: A new Schedule of Basic Support ObligationsA new way of handling child care expensesAn updated Medical...

For busy parents with anxiety who keep the household running while feeling chronically on edge, the hardest part is that worry can look like responsibility. The core tension is wanting to protect children’s emotional well-being while parental anxiety impact quietly shapes tone, routines, and the way kids read everyday situations. Because children track a parent’s cues, even subtle anxiety effects can teach them what to fear, how to interpret uncertainty, and whether feelings are safe to show. Recognizing these ripple effects is the first step toward steadier family mental health. Understanding How Worry Spreads in Families Parental anxiety doesn’t always look like panic. It can show up as constant checking, over-planning,...

For busy parents juggling work schedules, caregiving, and household logistics, parenting stress management can feel like a nonstop emergency response. The core tension is simple: the emotional load keeps growing while work-life balance in parenting keeps shrinking, and that pressure fuels real parental burnout challenges like irritability, numbness, and constant guilt. Mental and emotional wellness for parents matters because kids don’t just need care, they need a steady presence, even on hard days. Naming what drains parents most is the first step toward building emotional resilience in families. Understanding Adaptive, Creative Self-Care When the usual tips don’t work, creative self-care means choosing small, realistic...

From school supplies to homework routines, one conversation before the first day of school can help reduce conflict, improve communication, and give your child the consistency they need to thrive. A New School Year Is a Fresh Start The start of a new school year is exciting, but for children in two households, it can also bring uncertainty. New teachers, new routines, new schedules, and new expectations are easier to navigate when both parents are working toward the same goal: creating stability for their child. The good news? You don't have to agree on everything to give your child a successful school year. Before the first day of school, take time to have one important co-parenting conversation. It doesn't need to be long or...