ESL Podcast 397 - Being a Divorced Parent

single parent - a mother or father who is raising a child alone, without the help of the other parent, usually because the parents never married or are divorced, or because one parent died

As a single parent, Amanda has to act as both the mother and father for her children.

civil - polite; not rude, but not friendly either

Ingrid is always very civil to her colleagues, but she is never very friendly toward them.

joint custody - a legal arrangement made during a divorce where each parent agrees to live with the child for a certain amount of time each year

They have joint custody of their son: he lives with his mom during the week and with his dad on holidays and most weekends.

quality time - time that is spent with another person, really paying attention to each other and enjoying each other's company

They spend a lot of time together, but it isn't really quality time because they're usually just watching TV.

adjustment - a change; an adaptation to a new situation; getting used to a new situation

Learning how to use the new version of this software program has been a difficult adjustment for me.

visitation rights - the rules regarding when a parent can see his or her child while the child is staying in the other parent's home

If you keep using drugs, you will lose your visitation rights and never see your daughter again!

If you don't mind my asking... - a polite phrase used when one wants to know something that normally isn't shared because it is too private or personal

If you don't mind my asking, how much money do you make?

financially - related to money, especially how much money one has or how much money one spends

We're doing well financially, with enough money saved up to send Jenny to a good four-year university.

alimony - a payment, usually monthly, made from one spouse to another after a divorce so that he or she has enough money to live comfortably

Raheem has to pay $1,700 in alimony to his ex-wife each month.

child support - a payment, usually monthly, made from one spouse to another after a divorce so that he or she has enough money to raise the children

Does your ex-husband send you enough child support to buy clothes and food for the kids?

objection - a reason that one states for not doing something, or for not wanting to do something

A vacation in Hawaii would be wonderful, but my only objection is that I think it will be too expensive.

amenable - willing to do something; thinking that something is a good idea

I'm amenable to doing whatever you want to do on our date tomorrow night.

to act out - to behave poorly, usually to get attention; to misbehave

Ever since his mom died, Charlie has been acting out in school, fighting with the other students.

supportive - helpful; providing assistance and guidance; helping someone in a difficult situation

Wendy was very supportive when Blake had cancer, always visiting him and cooking for him.

stability - the condition of not changing; the condition of always being the same or similar

We have to stop moving so much! The kids need more stability in their lives.

under the circumstances - given the current situation; considering all the factors

Normally that home would have sold for $550,000, but the housing market is falling, so under the circumstances I think they were lucky to have sold it for $480,000.