Family Legal Issues Can Affect Kids During Divorce
Tucson residents know how difficult divorce can be. Family legal issues like property division, Parenting Time, child support, and spousal support can be hotly contested, leading to an animosity-filled battle to the end. On top of that, divorcing parties may stress about the shape of their post-divorce life. With all this pressure, anger and frustration, it can be easy for divorcing parties to ignore the fact that their children, too, are going through the process.
A divorce can be just as tough on children as it is on their parents. Witnessing emotionally-charged battles can take a toll on children, leaving them damaged, untrusting and resentful. Though avoiding disagreements throughout the divorce process may be impossible for some, there may be certain steps parents can take to ease children through the dissolution.
One step parents can take is to talk nicely about their spouse. This may be difficult, but talking negatively about the other party to a divorce may cause children to reflect negatively on the party doing the negative speaking. It can also cause a child a lot of emotional pain and discomfort. Parents should also let children know that the divorce is not the children’s fault. Kids often feel as if they played in a role in the breakup of their parents, which can cause great internal anguish. Parents should make it a point to reassure their children that the divorce has nothing to do with them. A last tip for parents is to be physically and emotionally available for their children. Spending extra time with the kids will let them know that they are still loved and will continue to be loved regardless of the outcome of a divorce.
Divorcing can be a lengthy, hard-fought process. However, it does not necessarily have to be so. Parties can choose to amicably divorce by coming together with the goal of reaching an agreement that is fair to both parties. Regardless of the type of divorce, amicable or hostile, A Tucson family law attorney may be beneficial in protecting a party’s best interests in a way that allows him or her to find peace of mind and a strong start to a new life.
Source: The Huffington Post, “Remember, Your Children Are Going Through This Divorce Too,” Michelle Crosby, May 6, 2014