Mediation makes a difference in

the lives of families, like the “Kendels”.

     John Kendel didn’t know what to do. Sixteen-year-old Ashley was disrespectful and uncontrollable. She was constantly skipping school, staying out late at night, and at times, not coming home for days at a time. The single father knew things had gone too far when Ashley was found with an open beer in her hands after police broke up a local teen party.

     In an attempt to put her life back on track and keep Ashley from trouble, the family came to mediation. At first Ashley was reluctant. But soon, the mediator helped her realize that John was not coming to mediation to scold or judge her actions, but to speak openly and honestly about how her mistakes had been hurting him.

John spoke of his concerns for their home life and how his daughter’s behavior and actions were negatively affecting his four other children. This proud man spoke with tears in his eyes, of one of his biggest fears; losing his little girl. 

     Ashley spoke of how she wanted to fit in and yet, at the same time, how she wanted to be herself. With tears flowing down her cheeks, she spoke of how she never knew how her father was feeling because they never had talked about their feelings. Because of mediation, the two began to repair a broken relationship between father and daughter.

     Overwhelmed with gratitude, John turned to the mediator before leaving and stuck out a callused hand. “Thank you,” John said with the faintest crack in his voice. He smiled and continued, “thank you for giving me my daughter back.”