DC and MD Matrimonial Lawyer Focusing on Custody, Divorce and Prenups
For over 20 years, Regina A. DeMeo has been helping families in MD and DC with custody and divorce issues either through mediation, litigation or advocacy. She is an alumna of Georgetown University and GW University Law School, who is nationally recognized as a top matrimonial attorney. She is frequently quoted in the media for her ideas to promote healthier relationships and featured in the Washington Post, ABA Journal and Bethesda Magazine for her care and commitment to her clients. As a legal commentator, she has appeared on Washington Post Express Facebook Live, ABC tv, Good Morning America, MMCTV, YouTube and Sirius XM, and has been quoted in various magazines, books and journals across the country.
Regina offers appointments in Maryland and DC. Her areas of practice include:
Latest Blog Posts by GenXSmartie
Teaching Kids About Love— and Divorce
When I got divorced in 2005, my son was 2 years old. As a result, we did not have to explain much to him about the reasons we were getting divorced, etc. Most of my clients, however, are not so lucky; therefore, on a very regular basis I have to work with my clients on developing a shared narrative-- a script that both parents will share with their children about why they are going to separate. The main points we want to share with kids are: (1) it is not their fault; (2) they will always be loved by both parents, who will continue to be involved in their lives; and (3) to the best extent possible, the parents are going to work together to minimize the disruptions to their children's lives. No one gets married with the expectation that it is not going to work out. Unfortunately, half of us will not succeed in keeping our first marriage together. How we write our divorce story is important, not just for us on a personal level, but for our children and peers. Life is full of disappointments and setbacks, but you have a choice to either wallow in self-pity and/or anger, or try your best to mitigate the damages and move on with dignity and grace. My hope is to [...]
Hitting the Reset Button
We all get angry, but we do not all handle our feelings the same way. When we fight with our partners, we learn alot about each other. While definitely unpleasant, it is a necessary part of co-existing with another, who will not always share your views on everything. After an argument, it is normal to want a time-out to process things. Some need less time than others, but like in a relay race, you have to go at the pace of the slowest person on the team.While both parties take a time out, it is incredibly helpful to replay the argument and identify what things hit certain trigger points. The point is not to get angry all over again, but rather to be able to isolate the exact words or actions that caused a negative reaction, and then to think through the reasons you had such a viceral reaction. This should later be shared with your partner-- but not until you have found a way to hit reset.For me, the key to hitting the reset button is actually remembering your love story. You need to remind yourself of the reasons you fell in love with that person, and then ask yourself whether that same person still exists. If that person has not pulled a bait and switch routine on you, [...]
3 Steps to Healing
Some of us are quite capable of burying our wounds deep down inside, and we can pour all our efforts into work and other things to keep us sufficiently distracted. But carrying all this baggage around is not healthy, and hiding from our greatest sources of pain will not help us heal. In fact, it is like allowing weeds to grow inside the garden of your heart, and left unattended, it can quite literally choke the life out of you.Facing up to our greatest disappointments and regrets is not easy, but once we can admit them to ourselves and some of our trusted loved ones, we can at least start to gain some perspective. By accepting our own role in certain unfortunate events, we can at least learn to be better and perhaps act more prudently in the future. By then taking something negative and converting it into a positive experience, we can change our whole outlook on anything, including love and life. The final phase of healing involves getting closure. When you can let go of the past and start to focus on the future. I know it sounds so cliche, but the best part is definitely in the final phase-- when you can let go of the past, let the pain just wash away, and finally make room [...]
Valentine’s Day Karma
Two years ago, I have to admit I was not looking forward to Valentine's Day, and so I threw an anti-Valentine's Day party, which included a pinata that featured a Disney princess, which I then crossed out with a large black marker. It was with great glee that I bashed that pinata, together with some other single friends. Let me just be totally honest, the rest of that year was filled with a series of disasterous dates. Needless to say, the following year I respectfully ignored Valentine's Day in silence. In the months that ensued, I found my family, and they filled my heart with more love than I ever thought imaginable.This year, for those that have been following the blogs lately, it does indeed seem that I've been struck by Cupid. One friend asked me recently if I've finally found my unicorn-- which references a far earlier blog that I wrote stating that finding the perfect man is like a quest for a unicorn. Well, I realize that fairy tale creatures do not exist, and I'm not going to pretend to be able to predict the future, but I will say I am looking forward to a romantic Valentine for the first time in a very long time. There is no magic formula that we can all apply to [...]