Children & Parenting

If you have been in any shop over the last month you could not have failed to notice that Father’s Day is almost upon us. Although the World Cup will have started most games are not on until the evening so before you cook your Dad a well-earned meal why not check out one of…

Guest post from Maureen Smyth, Writer/Editor with Shelter UK and Social Media Volunteer with Relationships Scotland. Scientists, and society, have talked for years about the brains of mothers being ‘hardwired’ for parenting. Studies have shown changes in the brains of new mothers, particularly to the level of the hormone oxytocin, also known as the ‘love’…

This is special guest blog post from Lauren Ferguson, 4th Year LLB Law (Honours) Student at Glasgow Caledonian University. Lauren’s post examines international perspectives in family mediation as a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Lauren’s views do not necessarily reflect those of Relationships Scotland. Mediation has become a widely recognised method of alternative dispute resolution. Putting an…

Projects supporting Scottish families through the toughest of times, including conflict and relationship breakdown, are to expand their services thanks to over £1.5 million from the Big Lottery Fund. Today’s total of £1,574,143 goes to five organisations supporting child contact centres in different parts of the country. • Relationships Scotland Orkney • Relationships Scotland Borders…

Guest blog post from Claire McLauchlin-Whitehead on Mother’s Day gift buying. As I scan through page after page of various jewellers websites I get as giddy as a magpie as all the shiny baubles catch my eye. I know I have to place my order soon to make sure I have it for mothering Sunday but I…

Guest blog post from Anne Chilton, Joint Head of Professional Practice at Relationships Scotland, on Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin’s ‘conscious uncoupling’. Conscious uncoupling might sound catchy and a bit new wave, but is it? It’s the other end of all that lovey dovey stuff we do at the start of a relationship. Only at…

As part of our series of guest blog posts for Mother’s Day 2014, Janis McCulloch talks about the best bits of being a new mum. Last Mother’s Day I had a very pregnant belly and was full of wonder (and fear) as to what it would be like to be a mother. A year on,…

We asked mums on Twitter and Facebook what the best thing about being a mum is. Here’s what 35 year old mum and teacher Sarah from Fife had to say… Wow. This is actually a hard question to answer. There are so many great things about being a mum. But there are so many difficult…

Guest blog post from Rosanne Cubitt, Joint Head of Professional Practice at Relationships Scotland. Child Maintenance is changing – charges are being introduced in 2014 for the use of the statutory service (previously the CSA, Child Support Agency). There are routes to avoid the charges. The preferred option is to set up a private arrangement,…

This article originally featured in The Scotsman. Family mediation helps resolve issues between separating couples more quickly and more cost effectively than those cases that go through the courts. Family mediators work directly with separating partners to improve communication, reduce conflict and help the couple themselves agree on practical, workable arrangements for the future care…

Top Ten Father’s Day 2014 events across Scotland

Becoming a dad can ‘re-wire’ a father’s brain

Family Mediation: Untapped potential as a dispute resolution method in Scotland?

Our child contact centre projects secure £1.5m Lottery funding

Why I’ll buy my own mother’s day gift this year

‘Conscious Uncoupling’ – A better way to separate?

Being a mum

The best thing about being a mum is…

Child maintenance is changing

Should mediation be mandatory for separating couples?