Shawn Baker has turned people’s stress into a business opportunity. She’s not a psychologist, doesn’t rub out tension through a massage, and is not creating sensible diets that help clients find their inner zen.
Baker lets people release anxiety by smashing stuff. Customers at her Houston-based Tantrums LLC choose their destructive weapon of choice – a baseball bat, a sledgehammer, a lead pipe, etc. – and swing away at TVs, dishes, tile, pictures and other breakables.
The business has garnered Baker a lot of media attention. In a Houston Chronicle story, Baker stated she sees more women than men. Similar businesses are operating in other cities, and Baker told the Chronicle she believes they are all owned by women. “We hold everything in,” she says.
Let loose in divorce
Whether male or female, expressing your feelings and wishes to an attorney, your spouse and others involved in the process can relieve a great deal of stress. It may even open the door to an amicable divorce, which reduces court appearances (or eliminates them altogether), saves time and cuts costs.
Many couples mistakenly believe they are not a proper fit for an amicable or uncontested divorce because they have not reached agreement on important decisions that must be made, such as child custody and a parenting plan or how to divide marital assets. This is simply not the case.
You can begin with differences in an uncontested divorce
If both parties in divorce are willing to work through their disagreements with assistance from their lawyers and a neutral mediator or other specialists, an amicable divorce is a realistic goal.
It is also a smart goal. Uncontested divorces have a number of benefits, including:
- Saving money
- Saving time
- Fostering an informal exchange in which participants can be open and honest
- Providing both parties more control over the outcome
- Frequently produces a more cooperative relationship long term following divorce
The lawyer you choose makes a difference
Some family law attorneys lean toward litigation, even when it can be avoided. They buy into the “pit bull” mentality that effective representation requires an aggressive approach. And, frankly, litigating means the lawyer can charge more legal fees.
A savvy family law attorney understands that avoiding a drawn-out dispute is more effective for clients who may have thought that approach was not even possible.
If you are facing divorce, it may be a good idea to see if there is a place to smash some stuff with a sledgehammer, and then find a knowledgeable attorney who can help you determine when litigation is necessary and when it is not.