Exclusive Magazine athome 2013 - (Page 141)

family LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON... Conrad with his son, Cameron AROUND 400,000 FAMILIES HAVE A SINGLE DAD AT THE HELM WORDS: EMMA KING PHOTOGRAPH: ROSSHOLDINGPHOTOGRAPHY.COM Troubling times 'I met Amanda when I was 19, and she was 18,' says Conrad. 'I had a job at a newspaper on Fleet Street, she worked for local government. We started dating, and bought a three-bedroom house together after three years. We got married at 26. The ﬁrst year-and -a-half of marriage were good but then the cracks began to show. There were no arguments; we just drifted apart. We fell out of love, and it was a rough time but we stuck together. After two years of marriage, at 28, Amanda fell pregnant with Cameron. We were delighted; and thought it would bring us closer. Unfortunately, it didn't and the marriage broke down completely.' Tough decisions 'Having Cameron was the best thing that happened but our marriage was MY SON NOW HAS TWO FAMILIES WHO LOVE HIM DEARLY AND HIS UPBRINGING HAS BEEN A LOT HAPPIER FOR IT '' W hether it's through sole or joint custody of children, the number of single father families is rising in the UK. And although the prospect of divorce can be deeply troubling, staying in an unhappy relationship can create a miserable household and childhood for the kids, which is why the end of a marriage can also be a positive move. Art editor, Conrad Holding, 43, found that while the break-up of his six-year long marriage was upsetting, it was the better option for him and his son Cameron, now 15, in the long run. Here's Conrad's uplifting story... doomed. We made the hard decision to get a divorce when Cameron was three in 2001,' says Conrad. 'In early 2002, Amanda moved out and I kept the family home. There was a law that stated if we waited for two years before divorcing, we could avoid going through the courts. So, in 2004, we signed the papers in the same room as some very expensive solicitors.' Specialist family barrister Stuart McGhee Esq. (www.divorcebarrister direct.com) explains that since Conrad's divorce, the law has changed: 'Before, if you were getting divorced and wanted legal advice, you had to approach a solicitor who would bring in a specialist family barrister. Now the law allows you to instruct a divorce barrister directly (known as Direct Access) without a solicitor ﬁrst, which reduces legal costs.' Better in the long run It's nearly 10 years since Conrad's divorce was ﬁnalised. It was a difﬁcult choice for the couple to make; whether to stick together because of Cameron or lead separate lives. But, Conrad feels that getting a divorce worked out for the best. 'Cameron was so young that alternating between us is all he's known,' explains Conrad. 'He's now 15 and still has one week with me, the next with his mum. 'Amanda re-married and had another son, so Cameron has two families. It can be lonely being a single dad, especially as Cameron is older now - he doesn't need me as much! But if me and Amanda had stayed together, it could have been much worse; we could've had blazing rows, even affairs. Cameron now has two families who love him dearly and his upbringing has been happier for it.' E Exclusive | 141 http://www.ROSSHOLDINGPHOTOGRAPHY.COM http://www.divorcebarristerdirect.com http://www.divorcebarristerdirect.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Exclusive Magazine athome 2013

COVER
EDITOR’S LETTER
THE BUZZ
G’DAY, MR ANDRE
BOYFRIEND IN THE BUFF
PARTY PLANNER
NEED A PARTY DRESS?
GOLDEN GIRL
FELINE FASHION
ANIMAL INSTINCT
GO BIG, OR GO HOME
STYLE SOS
STEP, STRUT, STRIDE
HI, HONEY!
ON THE LASH
SCENT OF A WOMAN
KISS AND MAKE-UP
BEAUTY CAN BE SKIN-DEEP
FAKE ID
A-LIST LOCKS
HOLLYWOOD SMILE
FACE FACTS
A IS FOR AMBITIOUS
INNER PEACE
THE C WORD
ALL EYES ON STIS
IS HE FIT?
DYING TO BE THIN
EATING ISN’T CHEATING
ROCK YOUR BODY
ITALIAN STALLION
COCKTAILS AND CANAPÉS
MAKE OR BAKE
WHEN I GROW UP...
SHE MEANS BUSINESS
LOVE IS IN THE AIR
PARENTING KIMYE-STYLE
BABY STEPS
DE-STRESS YOUR DAYS
GOING SOLO
A CELEB’S BEST FRIEND
SHAKE UP THE ROOM
GO RETRO
ON THE FLOOR
THE CENTRE OF ATTENTION
21ST CENTURY HOME
SUN OR SNOW?
VIP LOUNGE
CHART-TOPPER
ANDRE’S ANTICS
KINGS AND QUEENS OF REEM
TUCK IN
THE GIFT OF GIVING
STOCKISTS

Exclusive Magazine athome 2013