Archive for December 26th, 2009

Divorce and Children

Posted under: Divorce Tips by Divorce Lawyer




Recognising the traumatic situation, children are in; divorce courts pay utmost importance to child welfare. Other than deciding child custodial issues, the legal process is also interested in child residential issues. Placing paramount importance to child welfare, the parents, mediators or the court might arrive at different decisions best suited to each individual case.

Splitting Siblings to Live With Different Parents



Each family is unique. In families where there are more than one or two children, each parent might decide to each take a child. This may be the best decision in the given circumstances, but splitting siblings is not good. Over the years, siblings form a common bond and turn role models and best friends to each other. They suffer much in the absence of the other.



If circumstances necessitate their separation, every effort must be made to reduce their pain. They should be enabled to maintain a regular contact with each other. Maximum separation anxiety is felt immediately after separation. This stage should be carefully handled.



As separation induces pain, parents are experimenting with a new concept called ‘nestling’ in a bid to protect their children from the pangs of separation.

Nestling – A New Concept



Children find it painful to vacate and relocate to a different place with their custodial parent. Even after relocating with the lone parent; they have to keep commuting between the houses of both their parents.



Constant travel is difficult. Parents realising the pain such disruption offers, leave the children in the marital home and shift to individual residences outside. They take turns in visiting the children every week.



This new concept of nestling does not enjoy long tenure success. Parents find it difficult to change residence every few days. This difficulty in commuting becomes more difficult when either parent remarries. Leaving behind the spouse and step children (if any) for even a few days every week proves difficult to manage.



Such disruption evokes mere silence from younger children, while, the older children (teenagers)react with anger.

How Teenagers React



The disruption in living arrangements and lifestyle in general, affects children but teenagers are more vociferous in their displeasure. They like children of all other age groups feel they are responsible for their parental divorce. The helplessness of their parental separation leaves them angry and they tend to blame one parent. Usually, the custodial parent bears the brunt of anger. Majority of teenagers seek solace in the false power of anger to deal with the negativity of divorce.



Parents can help their teenaged children, by taking care to not make them a part of the conflict. Parents generally make the mistake of repeatedly questioning the children about the ex spouse. Some even speak negatively about their ex in a bid to alienate the children. Such acts must be avoided.

Reactions of Other Family Members



Grandparent and grandchildren relationships are precious and every person looks forward to grand parenting. Arrival of tiny children at home gives all grandparents a second chance at parenting.



However, this much longed for relationship develops impediments by the acrimonious divorce of their offspring. Bitter divorce fights completely alienates grandparents from their grandchildren. Contact further diminishes if children are forced to relocate with their custodial parent to a different place. Geographical and emotional distance prevents children from bonding with their grandparents. They thus lose valuable grandparental love.



Divorce thus affects each and every family member including the pets.

Pet Visitation



The law treats pets as property. Couples have to work out their own arrangements regarding the time either gets to spend with the pet and also the sharing of pet maintenance expenditure. If there are children in the family, it is best to leave the pet in the same house as the children.



Divorce affects everyone in the family – children, grandparents, and even pets. Every effort is being made to minimise child discomfort. Each arrangement has certain inherent drawbacks. Nothing can be comparable to the warmth and secure atmosphere provided by a two parent family and an undivided home.

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We all know that divorce rates are too high for comfort, but why? What gets between a devoted husband and wife that has the power to cause things to turn so sour? This article discusses the top 5 reasons couples get divorced. Having that knowledge gives you the power to nurture your marriage and keep it healthy!

Lack of Communication

One of the largest problems within a marriage is a lack of communication. Couples who are successfully and happily married converse throughout the day. While this communication doesn’t have to be a heartfelt, drawn-out conversation, it is vital to the marriage. By having this conversation, we are able to identify with our spouses. When this breaks down, whether it’s from hostility or the daily chores that come with life – we are no longer able to identify with our spouses in the way we need to.

Finances/Debt

This is another leading cause of divorce. Couples who have differences or problems when it comes to money are particularly vulnerable to divorce. When there is financial strain within a relationship, couples are stressed out, frustrated and may disagree on where the existing money goes. This is enough to break the bonds to a point where the marriage is ruined.

Infidelity

Whether infidelity occurs from sexual boredom or anger in a marriage, it is the most common reason for divorce. Often, even if it is a mistake and the cheating spouse wants to work things out, the victim spouse is unable to get over the hurt they have felt. Trying to keep things spicy in the relationship can really help prevent infidelity.

Abuse

Abuse is another common cause of divorce. Whether that abuse is physical, emotional or verbal – it happens more than we would probably like to think. Of course, if a person is abusive at all to his or her spouse, the spouse should leave right away. If anger or hostility is a problem, professional help may help salvage the marriage.

Instincts

Quite possibly the scariest reason of all is pure instinct. Humans biologically prefer to stay with one mate for around seven years before pairing up with another. In this case, couples may become distant, bored or uninterested in their spouses. Keeping things interesting, exciting and fun can help with this issue.

Knowing the top 5 reasons for divorce can really help you prevent these things from happening in your marriage. As you work to nurture your marriage and keep it healthy, keep these top 5 reasons in mind. When you actively work to prevent these problems, you will have a healthier, happier marriage.

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