It is possible for children to live happily, thrive, and to emerge from a divorce with minimal impact on their self esteem, a positive value system, belief that they deserve to be happy and are lovable, and on their ability to form and keep relationships.
But this doesn’t happen automatically, or by default. It requires work – and a lot of it.
Your children don’t need you and your spouse to fight over them – what they do need is for you to STOP fighting. You need to remember that there is life after divorce, and sorting out your custody battle amicably will certainly improve your children’s quality of life. Arguing about them constantly will only push them away.
Luckily, statistics seem to show that children report that their parents get along better after the divorce than during the latter part of their marriage. Here are things your children need, regardless of age:
There are many resources to help you with the issues of raising children through divorce. Our two favorites are:
If your children are under 16, you are required to complete a course mandated by the Government of Alberta called Parenting After Separation. It is now available online. Save your completion certificate, you will need it for your divorce and any other court filings.
A comprehensive parenting plan contains information about:
A comprehensive parenting plan is not so much a matter of law, but of discussing and agreeing on how you and your spouse are going to manage the business of raising your children.
We are constantly astounded with the number of people who think they can somehow manage one of life’s most important and complicated responsibilities without a plan. While some people believe they can be flexible and want nothing more than a statement that says each will have “free and generous access to the children”, at some point there will be a wrinkle where the parents are not in agreement. If there is a disagreement — how will you resolve it? What if you can’t? If you need a Judge to make the decision, what happens while you are awaiting trial? Where are the children? When do you get to see them?
Rather than negotiating children as if they are a car or some other piece of property, we require the couple to come in together and to focus on the best interests of the children. In the joint parenting meeting, we work with you to help determine what this would look like in your circumstance.
You may separating from your spouse, but your children need both of their parents. You and your spouse each need to take the high road and focus on the best interests of the children.