If you’re divorcing with kids, keeping them out of any personal battles is a top priority. If they’re constantly exposed to such hostility, children can end up with a damaged outlook on relationships – which is the worst case scenario. Instead, consider these tips to ensure that your child is kept far away from influential conflict, which will also protect your relationship with them in the long run.
When Divorcing with Kids, Be Professional
Divorcing with kids is especially tricky because the two people involved typically have some deep underlying history. The way you’d normally act, talk, and generally conduct yourself around them was already set, and now, those norms are all but absent. But even though you’re not a couple anymore, your role as a parent is still in play. It’s crucial to break free of past history or normalities, move forward, and conduct yourself in a professional manner. In fact, the relationship between ex-spouses is vaguely reflective of a business partnership, with the children being the product at hand. Co-parents need to stay focused on the product’s progression (the child or children), keep personal issues at bay, learn how to compromise, and know when it’s best to agree to disagree. By keeping things professional, you’re also lowering the chance for any emotionally-charged conflict.
Conflict Demands Responses, Not Reactions
From the way you conduct yourself with your ex-partner through email to how you communicate face-to-face, conflict can often be quelled by simply remaining calm. Although it’s difficult, the quickest way to nip conflict in the bud before it affects your children is to exercise patience. Your child may not be nearby at the moment, but who’s to say they won’t stroll by just as you let your fuse blow? Instead, take a few moments before responding and try to keep your emotions at bay. Getting emotional and hostile with an ex-spouse around your children can end up affecting their future outlook on relationships, an outcome that can be avoided with a bit of healthy patience.
Consider Parallel Parenting If Fights Aren’t Preventable
Parallel parenting is the antithesis of co-parenting, and the main topic of one of our previous blogs. It’s an arrangement where ex-spouses fulfill their parenting duties without any interaction. By limiting direct contact and communication with each other, potential conflicts can be easily avoided. It’s important to note that while parents can surely remain close with their kids in this scenario, decisions regarding day-to-day care will be left to each separate parent. In other words, the child or children would be exposed to two different parenting styles versus co-parenting, which is a more collaborative approach for couples divorcing with kids.
Consult a Vetted Family Law Attorney
Lastly, if you’re divorcing with kids and struggling to reach a settlement that benefits all parties involved, consider calling on a family law expert for assistance. Many firms specialize in expensive divorce litigation, which often takes years to settle in Orange County. In our case, The Law Offices of Jennifer Owens places faith in settlement – which typically takes far less time than litigation.
Avoid Divorce Litigation with a Settlement-Minded Family Law Attorney
Divorcing with kids is an emotional journey to endure. On top of the bitterness and anger which often result from a formal separation, the subsequent legal battles tend to make the whole process considerably more painful. At the Law Offices of Jennifer Owens, we revel in the power of choice. When spouses face divorce, they’re presented with a slew of decisions with a handful of potential outcomes. Our attorneys are believers in the best possible outcome, where a former couple chooses peace over destruction, so that they can finally move onto their next chapter. We can help with that. No matter your desired path – mediation, a negotiated settlement, or even litigation – The Law Offices of Jennifer Owens will achieve the best possible outcome by reaching a settlement that keeps all involved parties in mind. Visit our website to review our family law services or contact us online for a free consultation.