The trauma of divorce doesn’t always end when the final documents are signed. For warring Pennsylvania couples with children, the trauma is likely to continue unless they can agree on a suitable co-parenting arrangement.
No matter what happens, the parents should always keep the best interests of the children in mind. This means not speaking negatively about an ex in front of the child. Doing so might cause the child to feel caught in the middle. It is preferable to let the child draw their own conclusions.
Parents should agree to follow the same rules in each household. While this might be difficult to do if couples disagreed about parenting when they were married, they should make sure the rules apply to all members of the household. The rules don’t have to be complicated; they can be as simple as ‘be kind to others.” General rules provide children with a sense of consistency.
In addition, parents should not give children a feeling of false hope that their parents will get back together. Kids never want their parents to separate in the first place. Parents who give their children a false hope of reunion may only earn their distrust in the end.
Divorce is always more complicated when children are involved. Child support, custody and visitation are just some of the issues that need to be resolved. However, a family law attorney may be able to assist with these legal issues as well as assist in mediating a co-parenting plan when parents cannot reach an agreement.
