Description

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My name is Ginny Morris. I live at 1170 Birdie Ave. Apartment 3C with my mom, and at 385 Knickerbocker Rd. with my dad. I have two bedrooms. Each one is filled with half my clothes, half my books and art stuff, half my rock collection. It's been this way since they got divorced two years ago. The judge called it joint custody. It means Mom and Dad both take care of me, just not at the same time. Dad got custody of Charlie, our cat. Mom got our dog, Daisy. It's sad, if you ask me, that Charlie and Daisy had to split up. They liked each other.

Kids living in joint custody arrangements have to grapple with a number of logistical and emotional challenges, even under the best circumstances. Things get left or forgotten at the other house, projects and activities are interrupted, rules and schedules are different. In addition to feeling confused, frustrated, and even helpless because of these practical problems, kids also miss the parent they aren't with, the friends in the other neighborhood, the pet in the other house, their other activities -- even the other house itself.

Ginny Morris and Mom's House, Dad's House spotlights many of the day-to-day experiences of a child in joint custody and a wide range of solutions to typical problems. Ginny's ideas for getting organized, keeping connected with her parents and friends, and coping with things she can't change, and more, provide a roadmap for all children who are navigating the sometimes bumpy road between Mom's house and Dad's house.

About the Author

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Mary Collins Gallagher, MA, LPC, is a school counselor who has worked with hundreds of children before, during, and after their parents' divorce. She is the author of Ginny Morris and Mom's House, Dad's House and Ginny Morris and Dad's New Girlfriend. She has three grown children and lives in Madison, Wisconsin. Whitney Martin's illustrations have appeared in books, magazines, and catalogs, and he has worked on many animation projects, including Walt Disney movies. Before his career as an artist, he was a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. Whitney now lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his wife and two children. He is the illustrator of Big Ernie's New Home, Cory Stories, Ginny Morris and Mom's House, Dad's House, and Ginny Morris and Dad's New Girlfriend.