New Year resolutions not really your thing? They’re not Robin’s either. As a collaborative attorney, certified mediator, trained co-parenting coach, and mom and stepmom, Robin is evaluating her professional and personal goals for 2024 which we know many of our Peachy readers will be able to relate too.
By Robin M. Mermans, Esq. of ROAD to RESOLUTION
To be honest, I am not fan of New Year resolutions. I believe they set you up for failure. I am, however, a big believer of self-reflection and the creation of short- and long-term goals based on that reflection. I tend to categorize my goals into two buckets, personal and professional.
Professionally, as a co-parenting coach, Collaborative Family Law attorney, and owner of ROAD to RESOLUTION in Charlotte, my goal is to find new ways to reach people who need my help. While this could mean attracting new clients for family law matters, I also want to focus on providing resources to individuals and families no matter where they are in their journey with marriage, separation, divorce, co parenting, and step parenting.
One of the ideas that I’ve been kicking around for a while is writing a book about step parenting. This has been on my mind for several years, but I’ve struggled to determine what I am being called to write about and how it relates to my personal and professional experiences.
I have been a co-parent for over 15 years, and I have also coached co-parents for almost the same amount of time. I am truly amazed how some families find themselves in harmonious relationships amongst the stepfamily and with the biological parent with little effort, yet others struggled to find common ground. Even with my background and training, I stumble through my relationship with my stepchildren’s biological mother. One of my 2024 goals is to write about how to help fellow stepparents navigate the road ahead with ease, grace, humility, and – most importantly – humor. If you are a stepparent and have ideas or information you want to share, I would love to hear from you!
Another professional goal for me this year is to help recently engaged and soon-to-be engaged couples as they prepare for marriage. Tying the knot isn’t just a personal commitment – it’s a legally binding contract. I want to market our recently developed Pre “I Do” Education as a way to help couples gain insight into the legal ins and outs of marriage while having guided – and important – conversations about finances, careers, families, and their future together. This new service at ROAD to RESOLUTION helps them understand the terms of the consequential legal contract called marriage, prior to saying “I Do.”
Personally, my goal for 2024 is to let go and do less. I like to live life to the fullest, sometimes to my determent. I do not have FOMO (fear of missing out), but I love to grow, learn, connect, and contribute to my community in a meaningful way. This means saying ‘yes’ (with great enthusiasm) to meet and greet coffees/lunches, social and professional events, board seats, and philanthropic endeavors. However, I have come to learn that there is only so much time in a day, and only so much energy that can be shared. It’s important for me when I am involved with something that I show up fully present and ready to contribute to the best of my ability. I’ve recognized that I need to take time to rest and recover which translates to saying ‘no’ even when I want to say ‘yes.’
No matter your goals – professional and/or personal – I hope you’ll not only achieve them in 2024 but also find ways to enjoy the journey.
Note: This feature is intended to be informational only and shall not be construed as legal advice.
Robin M. Mermans is a collaborative attorney, certified mediator, and co-parenting specialist. She owns ROAD to RESOLUTION, a divorce mediation and collaborative family law firm, in Charlotte. With her unique perspective as an attorney, mother, and stepmother, she is an expert in shared parenting solutions and co-parenting guidance. She is committed to using her personal story and passion to help her clients save time and money, while avoiding unnecessary emotional turmoil during their divorce journey and on their road to resolution.
Leave a Reply