Fairfax VA Divorce Mediator

For people who are not going through the trauma of divorce, keeping children outside of the fray seems easy. But, when you are in the middle of your own family splitting apart, you can sometimes say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing before you can stop yourself – even when it negatively effects your children.

Below are 15 points to keep in mind so that your children are spared, as much of possible, the feeling that they are stuck in the middle of an emotional hurricane:

1. Put your children’s welfare first. Never use your children as a weapon against your spouse.
2. Be sure your children have ample time with the other parent. They need it.
3. Don’t introduce your children to your new romantic partner until the children have adjusted to your separation and your new relationship is stable.
4. Don’t bring your children to court or to your lawyer’s office.
5. Keep to the schedule. Give the other parent and the children as much notice as you can when you will not be able to keep to the schedule.
6. Be considerate. Be flexible. You may both need to adjust the schedule from time to time.
7. Giving of yourself is more important than giving material things. Your children need your consistent love and attention.
8. Do not use your children as spies to report to you about the other parent.
9. Do not use the children as couriers to deliver messages, money or information.
10. Try to agree on decisions about the children, especially matters of discipline, so that one parent is not undermining the other parent’s efforts.
11. Avoid arguments or confrontations while dropping off or picking up the children and at other times when your children are present.
12. Don’t listen in on your children’s phone calls with the other parent.
13. Maintain your composure. Try to keep a sense of humor. Remember that your children’s behavior is affected by your attitude and conduct.
14. Assure your children they are not to blame for the breakup, and are not being rejected or abandoned by either parent.
15. Don’t criticize the other parent in front of your children. Your children need to love and respect both parents in order to love and respect themselves.

Posted by Robin Graine, JD, Virginia Supreme Court Certified Mediator

This blog and its materials have been prepared by Graine Mediation for informational purposes only and are not intended to be, are not, and should not be regarded as, legal advice.  This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.  Internet subscribers and online readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 11th, 2017 at 2:09 pm and is filed under Families. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.