Caring Causes - National Health Law Program Expansion

The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) today announced the addition of four new Health Law Partnerships (HLPs), expanding its nationwide network of state-based legal advocacy organizations working to protect and improve access to health care for low-income and underserved communities.   The four new Health Law Partners are: Georgia Legal Services Program Minnesota Disability Law Center Montana Legal Services Association Pennsylvania Health Law Project For more than 55 years, NHeLP has served as a vital resource, partner, and brain trust for state-based advocates and legal aid organizations working to improve access to health care for low-income people. Through the Health Law Partnership program, NHeLP provides funding and technical support to state-based organizations, empowering partners to dedicate significant time and resources to collaborative advocacy, enforcement, and litigation efforts tailored to their states' unique needs.   With these additions, NHeLP now maintains Health Law Partnerships with highly experienced legal advocacy organizations in 26 states across the country, representing more than half of all states and strengthening the organization's ability to respond to emerging threats to health care access through coordinated advocacy, enforcement, and litigation.   Together, the National Health Law Program and its partners create and execute strategies to address existing and emerging obstacles to health care access. NHeLP also works with partners to build and strengthen their capacity to engage in new and innovative advocacy projects that protect the rights of Medicaid enrollees and other underserved communities.   The expansion comes at a critical moment for Medicaid and Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage as states begin implementing the harmful provisions of the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The law imposes new work requirements, more frequent and burdensome eligibility redeterminations, increased cost-sharing requirements, restrictions on trusted family planning providers, reductions in federal support to states through provider tax restrictions, the exclusion of many immigrants from coverage, and rollbacks that threaten access to essential services, including gender-affirming care and sexual and reproductive health care. About the National Health Law Program The National Health Law Program protects and improves access to health care for low-income and underserved people and works to advance health equity. Through litigation, policy advocacy, education, and partnerships, NHeLP works to enforce health care and civil rights laws and advance equitable access to health care. Learn more at www.healthlaw.org.   About Georgia Legal Services Program Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP) is a nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal services to Georgians with low incomes across 154 of the state's 159 counties. Through its network of regional offices, GLSP helps clients address critical legal issues involving health care, public benefits, housing, education, family stability, and economic security. Learn more at www.glsp.org.   About Minnesota Disability Law Center The Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC), a project of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, is Minnesota's federally designated Protection and Advocacy organization for people with disabilities. MDLC provides free legal advocacy and representation to protect the rights of people with disabilities and promote access, inclusion, self-determination, and community integration throughout Minnesota. Learn more at www.mndlc.org.   About Montana Legal Services Association Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) is a nonprofit law firm dedicated to protecting and enhancing the civil legal rights of Montanans living in poverty. For more than 60 years, MLSA has provided free civil legal assistance to low-income people in all 56 Montana counties and on every Tribal reservation in the state, while working to advance systemic change and expand access to justice. Learn more at www.mtlsa.org.   About Pennsylvania Health Law Project The Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) is a nonprofit legal services organization dedicated to helping people in need get the health care they deserve. Through free legal services, education, and policy advocacy, PHLP works to protect and advance access to health care for Pennsylvanians with low incomes, older adults, and people with disabilities. Learn more at www.phlp.org.

About NHeLP Founded in 1969, the National Health Law Program (NHeLP) protects and advances the health rights of low-income and underserved individuals and families. NHeLP advocates, educates and litigates at the federal and state levels. Our lawyers and policy analysts stand up for the rights of the millions of people who struggle to access affordable, quality health care. We are guided by the belief—a challenge—that each generation should live better than the last.

Caring Causes: rini Skin Care

Following four years of formulation, development, and clinical testing, rini just launched Daily Care Essentials. As the kid-first Korean brand where personal care and play meet innovation, rini combines advanced Korean formulation with rigorous scientific validation to create daily care products thoughtfully designed for children's developing skin. The collection debuts with the Daily Barrier Cream, Face & Body Lotion, and Foaming Face & Body Wash, available at heyrini.com.

 

rini is also pleased to announce a portion of sales from the Daily Barrier Cream, Face & Body Lotion, and Foaming Face & Body Wash will benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. rini is proud to support CHLA as it continues to shape the future of children's health through innovation, medical discovery, and a relentless commitment to improving outcomes for young patients.

Each Daily Care formula underwent a comprehensive clinical testing process to ensure exceptional safety and performance for children's developing skin. Testing included EpiOcular® evaluations to confirm the formulas are gentle around the eyes, HRIPT (Human Repeat Insult Patch Testing) to assess skin compatibility, and pediatrician-led in-use testing to evaluate real-world performance on babies and young children. Pediatricians and dermatologists tested that the collection is suitable for the entire family, including babies, children, and adults.

 

The Daily Barrier Cream was the first product developed for rini, inspired by the rich, multi-purpose barrier creams widely used in Korea to provide intensive hydration from head to toe. Formulated with 90.9% naturally derived ingredients and packed with Ceramide NP, Cica, Vitamin E, and Shea Butter, it was thoughtfully developed to support children's thinner, more delicate skin barrier, which loses moisture more quickly and is more prone to dryness and irritation. Its 72-hour hydration guarantee is clinically proven through a corneometer moisture study, delivering long-lasting hydration while helping strengthen the skin barrier, and soothe dry, sensitive skin.

 

Designed as the perfect everyday moisturizer, the Face & Body Lotion delivers lightweight, fast-absorbing hydration for head-to-toe use. The formula provides lasting moisture without feeling heavy or greasy, making it ideal for daily application after bath time or throughout the day. Powered by Ceramide NP, Squalane, Shea Butter, Cica, Glycerin, and lightweight emollients, it helps leave skin feeling soft, smooth, and comfortably hydrated while supporting a healthy skin barrier.

 

The Foaming Face & Body Wash is a gentle, clinically tested tear-free, pH-balanced cleanser developed to cleanse without stripping moisture. Formulated with 96% naturally derived ingredients, it features a 17-amino-acid complex that helps replenish key components of the skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), supporting hydration and helping maintain healthy skin homeostasis by restoring amino acids depleted through everyday life. Pro-Vitamin B5 (Panthenol) was intentionally selected to help soothe skin and leave it feeling soft and hydrated after every wash, making it ideal for daily head-to-toe use.

 

rini Daily Care Essentials are free from sulfates, SLS/SLES, parabens, phthalates, alcohol, petrolatum, disodium EDTA, BHT/BHA; nut free, talc free, gluten free, hypoallergenic, fragrance free, vegan, EU compliant, Leaping Bunny certified, received the NEA Seal of Acceptance, are EWG Verified® and made in Korea. 

 

About rini

rini, meaning "children" in Korean, is a kids' personal care and play brand founded by parents with a shared mission to create premium, science-backed products that children love and parents trust. Developed in collaboration with leading U.S. pediatric experts and formulators in South Korea, rini combines advanced Korean formulation expertise with pediatric insight to deliver effective, gentle daily care and play products designed specifically for children. Manufactured in South Korea, rini's proprietary formulas reflect the brand's commitment to transparency, safety, and quality, with rigorous clinical testing conducted in the United States and results openly shared through its "Formula Facts." All rini products are EU-compliant, vegan, fragrance-free, and suitable for sensitive skin. In addition, rini conducts extensive independent raw material documentation review and testing to help ensure its products are appropriate for sensitive and allergen-prone skin, with every batch tested for heavy metals, including lead, exceeding standard industry norms.

 

rini debuted in 2025 with the first hydrogel masks designed specifically for kids. An assortment of product is available at select Montage Hotels & Resorts and FACE FOUNDRIÉ facial bar locations.

Visit online at heyrini.com and on Instagram @rini.

Book Nook - A Soul on Trial: A Marine Corps Mystery at the Turn of the Twentieth Century

The grounds of Arlington National Cemetery are nearly deserted on this clear September afternoon in 1909. But just off McKinley Drive in the southwest corner of the officers’ section, eight laborers raise a casket from lot 2102. Rosa Sutton watches from a nearby carriage. For the first time in four years, she is about to see her son.

 

A Soul on Trial: A Marine Corps Mystery at the Turn of the Twentieth Century (2^nd Edition), by historian Robin Cutler, is the true story of Rosa Brant Sutton, who traveled 3,000 miles from Portland, Oregon, to Annapolis, Maryland, to challenge the Navy’s suicide finding after her oldest son died in a brawl. Inspired by her Catholic faith and alleged postmortem visits from her beloved son, Jimmie, she embarked on a crusade to save his soul from the stigma of a mortal sin — a sin that would keep him out of heaven.

 

“It’s an unforgettable story of a military mother desperate to learn what really happened to her son,” said Cutler, who is Rosa’s great-granddaughter. “Rosa was a private citizen taking on big government. She may have been the first mother to confront the armed forces in a military forum.”

 

Rosa’s spiritual journey soon became a political one that took her through the corridors of power in Washington, D.C., to a courtroom in Annapolis and finally face-to-face with Jimmie’s corpse in Arlington National Cemetery.

 

This unprecedented conflict between democratic values and military justice unfolded on a national stage thanks to Progressive Era journalists who found the story irresistible. By 1909, millions of citizens, attorneys, military officials and members of Congress had a stake in the fate of a patriotic mother who dared to challenge her own government.

 

To save her son’s reputation and defend her own sanity, Rosa ultimately enlisted the help of James Cardinal Gibbons, the highest official in the American Catholic Church, and Dr. James Hervey Hyslop, America’s foremost psychical researcher, who commissioned a detailed field study of Rosa’s paranormal experiences. With the press corps serving as a catalyst, these two men helped Rosa achieve an American brand of justice, as well as redemption for both Jimmie and herself.

 

A compelling murder mystery, ghost story and courtroom drama, A Soul on Trial is also, above all, a story of how the First Amendment equipped a mother to pursue justice over a century ago and continues to do so today. 

I had a chance to learn more in this interview.

Going Green - CRUSH! Floor Mat

CRUSH! Is a scented floor mat made from 100% bio-based, biodegradable materials that's perfect for college student’s dorm rooms, apartments, and cars.

 

Every step releases a fresh fragrance, making it a fun, practical addition to any college space. At $14.99–$20, it's an affordable gift for students and a great fit for dorm essentials, eco-friendly shopping, and back-to-school time.

 

Going Green - New Collections from hope&plum

hope&plum, the Minneapolis-based baby carrier brand known for its size-inclusive, USA-made carriers, has just launched its newest collections: Vesper and Maren. Inspired by the colors of summer sunsets and carefree days outdoors, the collection brings fresh seasonal style to the brand's most-loved carrier styles. Vesper features a soft, painterly design inspired by warm summer sunsets, blending blush pinks, golden hues, and earthy neutrals for an elegant, modern look. Maren offers a complementary coastal-inspired pattern with organic, flowing shapes and a fresh color palette that captures the relaxed spirit of summer. Available across hope&plum's best selling carrier styles - including the Lark Baby Carrier, Sprout Newborn Carrier and Ring Sling - both prints are designed to be as fashionable as they are functional. Each carrier is crafted from hope&plum's signature 55% hemp/45% organic cotton blend, making it lightweight, breathable, and ideal for warm-weather babywearing. The natural fibers become even softer over time while providing ergonomic support from the newborn stage through toddlerhood. Every carrier is ethically sewn in Minnesota and designed to fit a wide range of body types, with inclusive sizing from XXS to 6X. As baby carriers continue to evolve from everyday necessities into style-forward accessories, Vesper and Maren reflect the growing demand for products that seamlessly combine fashion, comfort, and practicality.

Book Nook - Busy Lizzie

Busy Lizzie is always on the go! Her imagination is boundless, and her energy seems endless… until it’s time to clean up her toys, make the bed, or brush her teeth!

The books encourage problem-solving and highlight the connection between actions and outcomes and stars an appealing main character with whom toddlers will easily relate!

Money Matters - Health Insurance Spending Survey and Tips

With individual health insurance premiums rising significantly in recent years, the personal-finance company WalletHub today released its report on the States Where People Spend the Most & Least on Health Insurance to shed light on where Americans are struggling the most to stay covered.

To identify where Americans are shelling out the most and least for health insurance, WalletHub analyzed average premiums in each of the 50 states, then compared it to the median household income.
 

Highest % of Income Spent		Lowest % of Income Spent
1. West Virginia (20.86%)		41. Colorado (6.72%)
2. Vermont (19.05%)		42. Rhode Island (6.67%)
3. Wyoming (17.16%)		43. Hawaii (6.37%)
4. Arkansas (14.87%)		44. California (6.32%)
5. Mississippi (14.05%)		45. New Jersey (6.23%)
6. Alaska (13.18%)		46. Minnesota (5.89%)
7. Louisiana (12.58%)		47. Virginia (5.86%)
8. Tennessee (12.19%)		48. Massachusetts (5.49%)
9. Alabama (11.85%)		49. New Hampshire (4.77%)
10. Montana (11.27%)		50. Maryland (4.66%)

To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-where-people-spend-the-most-least-on-health-insurance/145713


“Inflation has driven up health insurance premiums significantly in recent years, making it harder and harder for Americans to afford proper health care. Being without insurance is even more dangerous, though, as medical debt is one of the most common reasons people file for bankruptcy. People in certain states feel the pressure of high premiums more than others, as they can cost as much as 21% of the median income in some states and less than 5% in others.”
–
“West Virginians spend nearly 21% of their income on health insurance premiums, the highest share in the nation. The state's average monthly silver-plan premium is the third-highest in the country, while its median household income of $59,608 is the second-lowest.”


- Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst
 

Expert Commentary
 
What tips do you have to reduce health insurance costs?
 
“One way to reduce health insurance costs is to choose a plan that matches your expected healthcare needs. Individuals who are generally healthy and rarely visit the doctor may benefit from a high-deductible health plan with lower monthly premiums, while those with chronic health conditions may need a more comprehensive plan despite higher premiums. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through proper diet, regular exercise, avoiding tobacco and drug use, and limiting alcohol consumption can also reduce medical expenses over time and make lower-cost insurance options available. Unfortunately, the factors affecting health insurance costs are largely outside of an individual’s ability to control, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the one variable that someone can influence.”
Chris Douglas – Professor, The University of Michigan-Flint
 
“The best way to reduce health insurance costs is to take as high a deductible as your finances will allow. Insurance is meant to cover expenses that would otherwise devastate a family's finances so paying out of pocket for lower expenses will allow you to take a higher deductible. Much like reducing car insurance costs, taking steps to improve your health such as eating better and losing weight, reducing alcohol consumption, quitting smoking and getting regular checkups will all help reduce insurance costs.”
Scott Thorne, Ph.D. – Instructor, Southeast Missouri State University
 
 
How important is budgeting when it comes to saving money on health insurance?
 
“Budgeting is essential because health insurance is a necessary expense that protects households from potentially catastrophic medical costs. Incorporating health insurance premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses into a monthly budget can help families avoid financial hardship when unexpected medical needs arise.”
Chris Douglas – Professor, The University of Michigan-Flint
 
“Budgeting is important. Ideally, a family should have enough in savings to cover 3- 6 months of expenses with no income. However, only about half the US population has that amount put aside.”
Scott Thorne, Ph.D. – Instructor, Southeast Missouri State University
 
 
How is the current social and economic environment influencing household spending on health insurance?
 
“Healthcare costs have risen faster than the rate of inflation for decades. This has stressed budgets at all levels: individual, businesses, and governments. Efforts to slow the growth of healthcare spending have had limited success, and healthcare costs will likely continue to rise as the population ages and there are shortages of healthcare providers.”
Chris Douglas – Professor, The University of Michigan-Flint
 
“By ending the subsidies of insurance plans available on the ACA marketplace, the current administration has driven up the costs of health insurance, causing many individuals to opt to drop their health insurance, choosing to rely on urgent care and emergency rooms which are far more costly to society.”
Scott Thorne, Ph.D. – Instructor, Southeast Missouri State University

Money-Saving Health Insurance Tips
 

1. Make sure you have at least some coverage. As expensive as health insurance premiums can be, not having coverage can be far more costly if you experience a major medical emergency. Insurance plans have out-of-pocket maximums that put a hard limit on how much you can owe.
    
2. Budget well. Always include health insurance costs among the first things that you put into your budget, as coverage is essential. Then, set aside additional money each month until you have an emergency fund built that can cover 3-6 months’ worth of expenses. You can dip into your emergency fund when you have big medical expenses and need to pay money toward your deductible.
    
3. Consider high-deductible plans if you’re healthy. Plans with high deductibles tend to have lower monthly premiums. They essentially bank on you not needing much care during an average year. If you don’t have any big medical expenses, they can save you a lot of money. The tradeoff is that if you do have a medical emergency, you’ll have higher out-of-pocket costs than with lower-deductible plans.
    
4. Work at a job that covers your health insurance. Many Americans get their health insurance premiums covered through their employer. If yours doesn’t offer this benefit, you may want to consider switching jobs.
    
5. Stay on your parents’ insurance. Under the Affordable Care Act, young people can stay on their parents’ insurance policies until they’re at least 26 years old. 
    
6. Use preventative care. Many insurance plans provide at least some types of preventative care, such as an annual physical exam and certain immunizations and screenings at no additional cost. Taking advantage of these free benefits can also help prevent future medical problems, which is good for both your health and your wallet.
    
7. Opt for in-network providers. Going to an in-network doctor will be much cheaper than one that’s outside your network. Plus, health care plans often have separate out-of-pocket maximums for in-network and out-of-network care.

 
More From WalletHub

• States Where People Spend the Most & Least on Health Care
• States Where People Spend the Most & Least on Groceries
• States Where People Spend the Most & Least on Housing
• Best & Worst States for Health Care
• Best States to Live In
• States With the Best & Worst Budgeters
• Changes in Inflation by City
• Best & Worst State Economies
• States Where People Have the Highest Income

Travel Tidbits - Retreat Experiences in Malta

Malta is one of the oldest inhabited places on earth, home to megalithic temples that predate Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, built by a civilization that archaeologists believe was matriarchal and its goddess tradition here runs deeper than almost anywhere in Europe. And, Citrus DMC is your perfect match. You are looking for places with genuine spiritual and cultural depth layered underneath the wellness. Malta delivers it in a package so compact and so beautiful that a week here covers more ground emotionally than two weeks almost anywhere else.  Malta is small enough to feel intimate, safe, walkable, and completely manageable for a group without a complicated logistics operation. The food is extraordinary. And the goddess archaeology gives the whole experience an intellectual and spiritual anchor that retreat facilitators find invaluable. Valletta is ideal for a curated wellness walk throughout the city's historic streets, sunset apertivos, cooking immersions in chef's homes + private sunrise yoga in dynamic settings Mdina is perfect for candlelit dinners that provoke conversation, quiet streets and private palazzos that inspire introspection, bastion walls that are the perfect setting for journaling Gozo is all about private sunrise ceremonies at the Ggantija temples with a special guides focusing on their feminine spiritual significance and the civilization that built them Immerse and focus on a salt pan harvesting experience and coastal walk along Gozo's extraordinary rocky coastline, followed by a sea-to-table lunch Try your hand at a ceramics or lace-making workshop with a local artisan continuing a craft tradition specific to this island Add in a clifftop yoga session above the Azure Window site at the dramatic Dwejra coastline, one of the most visually powerful outdoor settings in the Mediterranean

Website Spotlight - TeacherLists

TeacherLists announced that it has surpassed 1 million digital school supply lists published on its platform, marking an important milestone in helping schools and districts deliver accurate, shoppable supply lists connected to major and regional retailers.

The milestone comes as back-to-school shopping continues to shift earlier. A recent TeacherLists survey found that 20% of families now begin back-to-school shopping in June*, highlighting the growing importance of making school supply information available earlier in the season. Through its partnerships with schools and districts, TeacherLists has encouraged schools to upload and share their lists earlier, giving families more time to plan ahead and shop with confidence before peak back-to-school shopping begins.

"Reaching 1 million school supply lists on the platform is a meaningful milestone for TeacherLists and the school communities we support," said Dyanne Griffin, Vice President of TeacherLists. "It reflects the strong partnerships we have built with schools and districts to help families access accurate, digital supply lists that are easy to find, shop, and connect with retailers. When lists are available earlier, families have more time to plan ahead and shop with confidence."

TeacherLists provides a free and easy way for schools and districts to create, update, and share digital supply lists with families. By making lists easier to find and easier to shop, TeacherLists helps reduce confusion, save time, and support a more seamless supply list experience.

With TeacherLists, families can:

• Find their child's exact school supply list in one centralized hub
  
  
• Access school-verified, shoppable lists online
  
  
• Compare options and plan purchases over time
  
  
• Shop through major and regional retail partners online or in-store
  
  
• Use mobile-friendly, accessible lists with multilingual translation support

For schools and districts, TeacherLists helps simplify list management. The platform is free for families, schools, and districts.

This milestone reflects TeacherLists' continued focus on making back-to-school easier for school communities and helping ensure students are prepared with the supplies they need for the first day of school.

How Families Can Find Their Lists

Parents and caregivers can visit teacherlists.com/content/families to search by state or zip code and find their school's supply list. If a list is not yet available, they can sign up to be notified when it goes live.

For School and District Leaders

School and district leaders can visit teacherlists.com/content/schools-districts to learn more about how to create, update, and share supply lists with their communities.

*Survey data referenced from the TeacherLists Preseason Parent Survey, May 2026, among 2,500 respondents who self-identified as parents or guardians of K-12 students.

About TeacherLists

TeacherLists is the single national source of verified school supply lists. TeacherLists makes it easy for school administrators and teachers to enter, update, and share their supply lists. Busy families love the convenience of easily finding and shopping their child's classroom-specific lists. TeacherLists partners with major and regional retailers, including Walmart, Target, Amazon, Staples, Office Depot, H-E-B, Meijer, Dollar General, Kroger, and CVS to offer shopping online, in-store, or both, giving families options to shop the way that works for them.

School Family Media is changing how schools and families prepare for back-to-school. Our nationally recognized platforms, TeacherLists, EduKit, School Tool Box, and PTO Today, simplify back-to-school for schools, teachers, volunteers, and especially parents. As a mission-driven company, our goal is to make life easier for school communities and help ensure students are prepared to learn.

Caring Connections - Should You Stay Together Until the Kids Leave Home?

By Sarene B. Arias

One of the most common questions I hear from couples who feel trapped in unhappy marriages is: Should we just stay together until the kids leave home?

The reasoning is understandable. Parents want to protect their children from pain. They stress that divorce will disrupt their sense of security, create emotional scars, or leave them feeling trapped between two homes. So, they make a huge sacrifice, telling themselves that if they can just hold on for another five, ten, or even fifteen years, they'll be doing what's best for their children.

But after years of working with couples navigating difficult relationships, I've learned that the answer is rarely as simple as "stay" or "go." The better question is this: 

What kind of home are your children growing up in today?

Children don't just experience what parents tell them; they experience what parents live.

Kids See More Than We Think

One of the biggest misconceptions I encounter is the belief that children don't notice marital problems if the arguments happen behind closed doors.

This is not the reality.

Children are incredibly perceptive. They notice the silence at the dinner table. They sense the tension when one parent walks into the room. They recognize the lack of affection, the short tempers, the emotional distance, and the constant undercurrent of stress.

Even if they can't explain what's happening, they feel it.

Many adults tell me they stayed together because they "never fought in front of the kids." Yet when those same children grow up, they often describe spending years walking on eggshells, wondering why their parents seemed unhappy, or blaming themselves for the emotional distance they couldn't understand.

Children don't need to witness explosive arguments to know something is wrong.

Stability Is About More Than Living Under One Roof

Parents often equate stability with staying in the same house.

But true stability is emotional, not geographical.

A peaceful home where parents live separately but communicate respectfully can be healthier than a home where two unhappy adults share a roof filled with resentment, criticism, or emotional withdrawal.

Divorce is never easy of course. It brings change, uncertainty, and grief. But ongoing exposure to chronic conflict can also shape how children view love, trust, communication, and relationships.

Children learn about relationships by watching ours.

If they consistently witness disrespect, avoidance, hostility, or emotional disconnection, they may begin to believe that's simply what marriage looks like.

On the other hand, when children see adults treating one another with kindness even during separation, they learn resilience, empathy, and healthy conflict resolution.

Staying Together Isn't Wrong—If the Relationship Can Heal

This doesn't mean every struggling couple should divorce.

Far from it.

Many relationships go through difficult seasons that can be repaired with commitment, honest communication, and professional support.

If both partners are willing to do the work, staying together while actively rebuilding the relationship can be a wonderful gift for the entire family.

The important distinction is whether the relationship is growing or simply enduring.

Ask yourself:

• Are we working toward healing?

• Is there genuine respect between us?

• Are we creating an emotionally safe environment for our children?

• Are we showing them healthy ways to handle disagreements?

If the answer is yes, then staying together may provide both stability and growth.

If the answer is no and nothing changes despite repeated efforts, then staying together only because of the calendar may not be serving anyone.

Children Benefit from Honest, Age-Appropriate Communication

Whether parents stay together or separate, one of the greatest gifts they can give their children is honest communication.

Children often imagine situations to be far worse than reality when they aren't given information. They may assume they're responsible for the conflict or fear they're about to lose one parent entirely.

Simple, age-appropriate conversations can reduce anxiety enormously.

Children don't need every detail of adult problems. They do need reassurance that they are loved, that the conflict isn't their fault, and that both parents remain committed to caring for them.

Consistency, honesty, and emotional availability build trust during uncertain times.

There Is No Perfect Time

Many couples postpone difficult decisions because they're waiting for the "right" milestone.

After elementary school. After middle school. After high school. After graduation. After college.

But life rarely provides a perfect moment.

Years can pass while resentment deepens and emotional distance becomes the family's normal.

The decision to stay or separate shouldn't be driven solely by the children's age. It should be guided by the overall health of the home environment.

Ask yourself whether your children are growing up surrounded by love, respect, emotional safety, and healthy communication or by tension, fear, avoidance, and unhappiness.

That is far more important than whether they're eight or eighteen.

Choosing Compassion Over Fear

All family's circumstances are unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Some marriages can be transformed. Others cannot.

What I encourage couples to avoid is making life-changing decisions based entirely on fear.

Fear tells us to delay difficult conversations. Fear tells us children are better off if parents simply stay married. Fear tells us that appearances matter more than emotional well-being.

Compassion asks different questions.

What creates the healthiest environment for everyone involved? What portrays the kind of relationships we hope our children will have one day? What path allows each member of the family to heal, grow, and thrive?

Sometimes that path is rebuilding the marriage together.

Sometimes it's creating two peaceful homes instead of one conflicted one.

Either way, children don't need perfect parents. They need emotionally healthy adults who show them what love, respect, accountability, and compassion look like even when life doesn't unfold as planned.

When we make decisions from that place, we're not simply choosing between staying or leaving.

We're choosing the kind of legacy our relationships will leave for the next generation.

Ms. Arias is a Certified Integral Therapist who helps couples transform conflict with compassion. Through her Diamond Workshops, she supports partners who feel stuck or hopeless to find a way forward, even in the most challenging circumstances. She is the author of Discovering Diamonds: An Inspirational, Practical Guide to Divorcing with Compassion, a practical roadmap for low-conflict separation that supports families with empathy and resilience. Her expertise spans modern divorce conversations, including whether to stay “for the kids,” progressive approaches to separation, co-parenting strategies, and financial clarity during divorce.