The Deccan Chronicle recently reported on the story in which an Indian woman has filed for divorce since her husband has not changed his Facebook relationship status from “single” to “married.”

Her husband, a 31-year-old businessman, reportedly told the court that updating his status had simply slipped his mind, as the pair wed only two months ago. But his 28-year-old IT professional wife pressed on with the divorce because she “couldn’t trust him”, high court advocate P. Subhash told the paper.

The judge reportedly told the newlyweds to undergo six months of counseling.

The story may seem a little outlandish but an Asian Age report sheds a little more light on the situation. It’s an arranged marriage and apparently, this kind of thing happens frequently still in the region the couple is from:

The Telugu couple had an arranged marriage just two months ago. … The judge has given the two parties six months to undergo counselling.

There are several cases like this one of couples wasting the time of the courts by asking for marriages to be invalidated for the flimsiest of reasons. Altercations over who makes the tea and refusal to take an in-law’s phone call have snow-balled into divorces. Family court lawyer Anita Salabh Jain says couples are not serious about a long-term relationship. “They just want to make insignificant issues culminate into something serious and drag the spouse to court. The sole issue of not changing one’s marital status in social networking sites can’t be accepted as a ground for divorce. The court will try to bring the parties together,” she said.

Do you feel Facebook relationship status is a viable reason for divorce?  Even if the marriage was arranged?

“Fathers are no longer seen as just providers or occasional babysitters, but as actively engaged in their children’s emotional and daily lives, down to their routine care,” says Lauren Rinelli McClain, an assistant professor of sociology at Savannah State University. She is one of more than 30 researchers and policy makers who will present papers at a conference on “Fathers and Fathering in Contemporary Contexts” later this month at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md.

It’s an area of growing research.  We have previously spoken on everything from the joys of fatherhood to recent studies linking fatherhood to certain health benefits.  Amid this are, of course, benefits for the children as well, as studies have shown that children with active fathers are less at-risk than those with non-active fathers.

There is another element to this overall wind of change: marriage.

“We’re getting a new cultural script for a ‘new dad’ but not for a ‘new husband,’ ” says W. Bradford Wilcox, director of the University of Virginia’s National Marriage Project. “That married people with children now often refer to themselves as a ‘stay-at-home mom’ or ‘stay-at-home dad’ instead of as ‘wife’ or ‘husband’ signals that we now prioritize parenthood over marriage itself.”

As men try to be better dads, they are running into the familiar difficulty of balancing kids, career and marriage—a problem that women have been trying to manage since the 1970s. With men as with women, it is marriage itself that often gets short shrift.

“Men are experiencing what women experienced when they first entered the workforce in record numbers—the pressure to ‘do it all in order to have it all,’ ” according to a report released by the Family and Work Institute last year. It also found that the acceleration in “work-family conflict” has been particularly conspicuous among fathers in two-income families, with 60% saying it was an issue in 2008, up from 35% in 1977. That figure remained relatively stable for women, at 41% in 1977 and 47% in 2008. As men adjust to contemporary family life, Mr. Coltrane speculates that American culture may be on its way to phasing out the gendered roles of “husband and wife” and “father and mother” and replacing them with the functional roles of “spouse and parent.”

“This indicates, at least for a growing minority of men, that marriage is a greater economic and cultural capstone than fatherhood,” says Susan Brown, the center’s co-director. “They’re saying, ‘I need to complete my education and find a stable job before I get married, but not before I have a child.’ ”

For children, this is not an encouraging trend: Fathers who are married to their children’s mothers are, statistically, the most active caregivers. Still, it appears that today’s dads often remain involved with their children even if they do not live with the children’s mom or have a strong emotional connection to her.

In a 2010 report published by the Future of Children, a joint project of Princeton University and the Brookings Institution, researchers found that “involvement [with their children] is high even among fathers who are not in a romantic relationship with the mother.” Even more striking, the study went on to highlight, “a high proportion of all unmarried fathers say that they want to be involved in raising their child, and the mothers say they want the father’s involvement.”

The Men’s Divorce Law Firm believes fatherhood changes a man in positive ways and that happiness is passed onto the children.  If you are in a marriage, or divorced, your relationship with your children does not have to change.

While the concerned father is not completely vacant in safety-oriented car advertising (look no father than the “Baby Driver” spot for Subaru) this commercial adds an almost entirely new dimension.

Showing a father looking after his daughter from birth, to her first date, to moving out of the house it offers a concise look at a sampling of  things a father does for his child in 90-seconds.  This ad goes right for the heartstrings, and even if you’re not in the market for a new car the message likely echos beyond just consumerism.

“There were four guys in black ski masks. They pulled me, and they started beating me,” said Robert Klein, 25, of Brooklyn. He said they also took his cellphone and credit card.

“They tied my hands and feet. blindfolded me, beat me and made me repeat, ‘I want to give a get, and I’m doing so willingly and freely,’ ” said Klein, who is in a bitter divorce battle with wife Reva in Queens Supreme Court. The couple split after 10 months of marriage.

Under Jewish tradition, the husband must consent to a divorce.

Klein’s father-in-law, Brian Hirshman, 52, was charged with robbery and assault yesterday.

Klein said that after he was ambushed by Hirshman and the others, he mumbled the words they made him say.

“If they recorded it, they would know it was forced. I checked with the rabbis, and it’s not considered a valid get. It wasn’t written,’’ he said.

A woman who answered the phone at Hirshman’s home declined to comment.

Divorce.alltopics.com draws its information from across the web and includes videos, articles, and social media sites including Facebook.  Alltopics also rates the articles on popularity and reliability.  So you know if you stumble across a change in divorce laws if its more likely to be real or fake.  While not targeted in any way like our divorce blog it does offer a lot of one-stop-shopping features for someone looking for a quick and broad scope of information on divorce.

Some of the articles answer pressing and relevant questions like: How to tell children about divorce? What tips are useful when one wants to fix the relationship? What happens after cheating? And what could be the reason for divorce among so many couples?

1) Pamper Yourself

If you are the custodial parent you are likely wearing two hats every day.  Mother’s Day is about honoring the hard work a mother does for her family.  Since you are often in the position where you shoulder most of the burden of that hard work, why not take a moment and give yourself a pat yourself on the back?  Go out to the spa and get a massage, make plans in advance to have the kids taken care of the evening before and go out to your favorite place with your friends.  Just because you aren’t a woman doesn’t mean you don’t work just as hard and should have a day to honor that work outside of Father’s Day.

2) Acknowledge your Ex

The love has faded, and the breakup may or may not have been messy, and she may now be the last person you really want to have a conversation with.  But, even if that is the worst case scenario she is still the mother of your children.  If the breakup is new your children need stability and need to feel they are free to love both parents.  Honor the day through your children and acknowledge that whatever good or bad came of the relationship you received a gift by having your children in your life that wouldn’t have been possible without her.  Avoiding the subject all together, or being callous when it comes up, is likely to cause additional tensions on the whole family.

3) Make Time

If possible, plan in advance for you children to have the opportunity to spend time with their mother on Mother’s Day.  Even if it is one of your few precious days that week or month when you are supposed to have them the gesture will not be forgotten and be greatly appreciated on her side.  It is gestures like this that when Father’s Day comes around will help make sure you get your own special time then.

4) Plan Ahead

This is especially important with younger children who don’t have the means of transportation or the foresight to create structure which allows them to prepare for Mother’s Day.  Planning ahead will help make time and give your children something fun to look forward to.  It can also be a wonderful opportunity for you to bond with your children as you make Mother’s Day cards or crafts.

5) Create an Open Atmosphere

It may be the first Mother’s Day you are not spending in your previous family structure.  If this is the case you and your children will be struggling to fit into the “new normal.”  Create an open atmosphere that allows them to talk about their feelings.  Don’t push them farther than they want to go but encourage them to understand that they can still have a strong relationship with you and your ex.

6) Handling A “New Woman”

If it has been some time since you separated from your children’s birth mother than it is possible you have committed to another woman and perhaps even re-married.  Children may be uncertain how this new mother figure is fitting into their life, and what to do on Mother’s Day.  Much like number five, allow your kids to voice their opinions on how they feel and don’t push them too far.  They may not feel comfortable yet writing “Happy Mother’s Day” cards for anyone but their biological mother.  However, they may also be willing to realize the active role the new figure is playing in their life and a simple “Thank You” card acknowledging their efforts may be easier for the kids, and still speak volumes for the new spouse.

7) Keep it in Perspective

Remember what the day is about: Family.  Mother’s Day and Father’s Day celebrate the hard work parents do for their kids, but without those kids there would be no one to work hard for!  So when times get tough remember your children are at the root of all celebrating which occurs on this day and make it just as much about making happy memories and spending time together.  When all else fails, remember Father’s Day is right around the corner!  So it will son be you receiving macaroni cards, breakfast in bed, and all the warm displays of affection from your kids you can handle.

The Men’s Divorce Law Firm believes in the necessity for kids to have both parents in their life growing up to create a healthy and stable atmosphere.  We fight for Fathers, Families and Fairness in family law.  If you feel you don’t have the appropriate amount of access to your children contact us today to see how we can help.

Benefit from the wisdom of others as we share our personal favorites and see if mother really knows best:

“There are so many people… there will be someone else for you!” – @9kittens

“Run and don’t look back!” – @bromaljais

“A selfish girlfriend will be a selfish wife, a selfish mother, and a selfish grandmother.” – @BrianMcCardie

“If your mom doesn’t approve, they might not be “the one”" – @anishikaj

“When you break up with someone never ever go back again!” – @kruddy

“Mom said you should learn to leave the table when love is no longer being served” - @KenLudmer

“If you thought about breaking up, then you should break up!” – @leschaef

“Be respectful no matter how much it hurts and try to keep an open mind.” - @deadmousesqueak

“Why cry over someone who can’t see that you’re the best thing ever?” – @the_beef_queen

“If it’s difficult, it’s not right, love shouldn’t be hard!” – @MissSoltani

“This too shall pass” – @NinaTalv

“You can always buy new furniture and start over.” – @rm929

“It’s Called a Breakup Because It’s Broken!” – @tracylynngeorge

What is the best relationship advice your mother has ever given you?  Did you follow it?

The Crawfish Party is an annual tradition for a cause put on by Flop House.  Partial proceeds from ticket sales will go to U.S. Veterans of Foreign Wars as well as the local charity Heart to Heart: A Community Care Home for abused women.

The 16th Annual Crawfish Festival promises all the good music and good times of past years.  The bands currently billed to play are the Digital Mantas, I-Resolution, The Whitey Tighties, The Crazy Carls, The Burnin Smyrnans, and B-Liminal.  They have listened to past concerns and added another 1,000 pounds of crawfish to their normal amount, bringing the total of the event to 3,000lbs of crawfish for one day!  Crawfish will be sold for $5.00 and will come with corn and potatoes.  The VIP area has been ramped up and will be inside of the Gibson Guitar Studio this year.

If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet for the event they are on-sale right now for $30.00 online.  Tickets at the door are $35.00 day of the event.  Discount tickets for $25.00 are available for students with valid ID in advance.  VIP Tickets are also being sold for $100.  Alcohol is included in the price of the tickets, but not food.

Parking on site will be the various parking garages which can be found all over downtown.  If you are out by the University of Central Florida or are a student charter buses will run with the following times and prices:

Charter buses are provided this year by Dark Knightz Promotions.
Charter bus tickets are $10 and run from 1:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Stops go as follows…
ALL TRANSPORTATION QUESTIONS TO darkknightzevents@yahoo.com

From UCF to Downtown
1:00, 3:30, 6:00, 8:15 Knights Library Parking Lot (about 10 minutes at each stop)
1:20, 3:50, 6:20, 8:30 Sterling Apartment Complex
1:40, 4:10, 6:40, 8:45 Fairwinds Federal Credit Union (3313 N. Alafaya Trail)
2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:00 Buffalo Wild Wings (Waterford Lakes Town Center)

This event is 21+ and will go on rain or shine.  So come hungry for crawfish and be ready for a great time!

The Men’s Divorce Law Firm is proud to sponsor events in our community and we look forward to having a great time at this years 16th annual crawfish festival!

The Pew Research Center recently released a study showing that women are beginning to value success in their careers more than men value their own.  When looking at this with consideration to last year’s University of Nebraska study that indicated that 75 percent of men consider being a parent very important, while only 48 percent had the same opinion about having a successful career, it is possible to draw a conclusion that the importance of the mantle of parenthood is potentially shifting from one parent to the other.  The survey’s creators admitted that there is a possibility of respondents answering to their ideal self, rather than their actual self, due to fear of a stigma against those who are over-concerned with work.  However, even if that is the case it still remains true that even if the execution has yet to come to pass more men are placing more emphasis on fatherhood in their lives.

Having a two-income family is still a luxury, and when at least one of the two incomes is significant enough to afford a solid living for a family of three or more, it’s a blessing. Most middle class families, when both parents are working out of necessity, it’s the ability to stay home with the children that is a luxury. It can be a difficult choice, particularly if one parent’s income is roughly equivalent to the cost of day care for his or her child or children.

Now that more men are staying home to care for their children while their wives concentrate on their careers, it’s easier to shatter one of the long-standing myths about fatherhood. Previously, men who chose to pause their path to career success were judged inadequate to survive in the world of business.

An insider said, “That is absolutely ridiculous. … Kim and her lawyer are trying to bully Kris into a settlement and that isn’t going to happen.”  Rumor has it that Kim will be leveraging her bank account and assets with her attorneys to drag out the process until Humphries will be financially drained and forced into doing what she wants.

The insider added, “The only way that this case won’t go to trial is if Kim publicly apologizes to Kris and admits that she only married him for television ratings. Kris just wants the truth to come out and Kim is just absolutely livid that she isn’t getting her own way. Kris wants Kim to answer questions about their relationship, under oath.” Humphries doesn’t seem ready to back down or fold under the pressure.  “Kris is ready for a fight and he has said that Kim should ‘bring it on.’ Kris won’t be silenced and he isn’t after her money, he doesn’t want one dime from her. t’s just about the truth coming out, something that Kim’s camp seems to be petrified about.”

Humphries argues that this is about more than money it is about the truth of the situation.  Something which may only be able to come out in the courtroom, under oath.