Saturday, October 4, 2014
Nonviolent Communication Skills
When dealing with a recent conflict involves very close friends of mine who are in the middle of a divorce. My children and their children grew up together and we are like family. They both were there for me and my girls when I went through a nasty divorce. I find myself not wanting to take sides and trying to stay out of the middle while maintaining friendships with both of them. I feel I cannot go into details but I now know it is ok to not take side and stay neutral. I can choose to take the third side which is the side of the whole. The communication strategies I learned this week will assist me with further communication in that I will be able to express myself in a manner as getting a need met instead of it being my want. I will also be able to utilize the "balcony" where I can step back and take a look and gain a perspective. This will allow me to proceed in a more effective manner when trying to resolve conflict.
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Being caught in the middle is no fun. Taking the third side in this case and staying neutral is important. I hope everything works out for everyone involved, especially the children!
ReplyDeleteI agree with not taking sides, especially with something so sensitive as a divorce. I'm sure both parties will appreciate a listening ear minus the judgment and harsh opinions (what most people tend to do in these cases). This entire experience can determine how the children define their relationships in the future. Best wishes to you and your friends:)
ReplyDeleteHi Rhonda
ReplyDeleteThis must be a tough one being caught in the middle. This is not a situation that I would look forward to. I believe that you utilised an effective strategy by taking the third side. Taking the third side does not necessarily mean that you must remain neutral. However, regardless of where your sympathies lie, you need to take the side of the whole. You need to understand all sides of the situation and support an outcome which addresses the need of all involved. Hope that everything works out for your friends!
Hi Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that your friends are going through such a difficult time. I'm sure it would be awkward for you to try to continue being friends with both of them. I'm glad to hear that the information we're learning from this course is beneficial to both your professional and your personal live. Good luck with this!
Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteThat is a hard situation to be in and I wish your close friend peace in the end. Glad to hear that the information you have gained with help you while navigating these hard times.
Megan
This actually happened to me a few years ago. I was stuck right in the middle and finally had to tell each I was not willing to lose either of them and that we would have to agree on certain topics that would not be discussed with me by either party. It was pretty tense for a while, but finally things settled into a routine of when we would see each other and so on...it is definitely hard when two family members that you love decide to get divorced.
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