School Days and the Divorce Maze: SouthFlorida.com

Frederick Fell Publishers, 2008, $14.95

I suppose it's just wistful for me to wonder how my life might have been different had my divorced parents read School Days and the Divorce Maze. With every possible angle covered, including the importance of picture day and who should buy the textbooks, this is the GPS for helping separated parents plot a successful course through their children's schooling. The book answers frequently asked questions, uses fun-to-read real-life stories and offers practical solutions.

The author, family therapist Renae Lapin, has both the personal (divorced with three children) and professional experience to command fluent knowledge of the subject at hand. She has been working as a family therapist for 28 years, lending an enormous amount of credibility to her insights. She is currently working for the Broward County School Board, where she provides services to children and their families.

The book's premise is that a child's school career can build or destroy self-esteem, depending on how he or she is guided through it. A child's school experience can and should be a positive one, but there needs to be clear communication between the parents, children, teachers and school administration. The book offers advice to all parties and addresses daily issues related to school.

At times it would seem that parents let their common sense run away without a trace, letting anger toward their ex-spouses come before the love of their children. To every parent dealing with a divorce, I implore you to pick up this book and read: for inspiration, for peace.