On behalf of Gary Kirk of Kirk Montoute Dawson LLP posted in Family Law on Monday, September 14, 2015.
In our last we post we talked about some of the mistakes individuals who are a party to a divorce might make. Those mistakes focused on issues that many couples might face, regardless of whether children are a part of the equation. In this post we will focus on what to avoid if children are in fact in the picture.
Most parents want what is best for their children and take actions every day with their well being in mind. In cases of divorce this could mean that parents try to shelter their children. While children should not be privy to everything about their parents’ failed relationship, parents should not go too far the other way. Pretending that everything is fine when it is not, can have a negative impact on a child’s life and lead them to worry about things they might not if the matter was discussed.
Next, when a parent does talk about a split with his or her children, they should be mindful about what they say. Because kids love both of their parents, neither should speak poorly about the other. Children who hear this might think they have done something wrong and could feel depressed, insecure, sad, guilty or confused.
Taking the steps above can be particularly helpful since the divorce process is not always swift. Always trying to take the high road can go a long way toward making things easier for your children as property, support and child custody matters are being worked out.
Because there are so many things that need to be addressed in the average divorce, it is usually best for all involved to work with a family law lawyer.
Related Posts: Understanding home ownership and property rights in a divorce, Travelling without children during a family law dispute, Set boundaries and rules to protect kids from child custody drama, Protecting credit amidst a family law dispute