02/09/2026
I was sitting in a coffee shop when the conversation at the next table caught my attention.
Three women were having an early-morning coffee. One was upset because her former husband never paid maintenance on the same date each month.
Within minutes, everyone was offering legal advice.
Advice from a friend’s cousin.
Something somebody had seen on Facebook.
A story about what happened to someone else’s neighbour.
None of it made her feel any better.
I kept thinking: what if, instead of adding fuel to her frustration, someone had simply said, “Invite him to mediation”?
In mediation, she could explain what late payments do to her budget, her debit orders and her ability to provide for the children.
He could explain why he struggles to pay on the agreed date.
Then, with a mediator’s help, they could look for a practical arrangement that works better for everyone.
Mediation does not decide who is the better person.
It helps people understand the problem beneath the argument, and find a workable way forward.
Sometimes a difficult conversation, held in the right room, can prevent years of resentment.
