Ex-Etiquette for Parents

October 25, 2004
Blackstone-Ford is a divorce and stepfamily mediator who married Jupe's first husband. Together, they've written a thoughtful, well-informed guide to practicing good behavior after a divorce or separation. Their combined experiences as wife and ex-wife, along with Blackstone-Ford's professional expertise, allow them to expound on a number of situations. Indeed, it seems they cover all the bases: introducing a new romantic interest to your ex, interacting with a"counterpartner" (i.e., the ex or new partner) when there's been an affair, handling attraction among stepsiblings, dealing with an absentee parent who resurfaces and more. Relations between spouses and exes can often be fraught with complications, and confused or frustrated readers will find much of value here. The authors keep their emphasis on the positive (e.g., calling a stepfamily a"bonusfamily"), but are never unrealistic about the challenges divorced parents face. They even include a chapter on"managing the formalities," offering suggestions for correspondence, weddings, showers and holidays.