Divorce is never easy, especially when you have children. No matter their ages, divorce impacts kids at least as much as, if not more than, their parents. For one thing, it represents the break-up of the home and family they rely on. For another, they often feel that they somehow caused their parents to stop living together by something they said or did. Probably most frequently, however, they fear the loss of their noncustodial parent.
To lessen the negative impact your divorce will almost inevitably have on your kids, you and your soon-to-be former spouse should, if at all possible, devise a workable joint custody arrangement. Actually, virtually all courts see joint custody as the optimal solution.
Benefits for your kids
As reported by Stat News, joint custody benefits your children in the following ways:
- It provides them a greater likelihood of maintaining an ongoing parent-child relationship with both parents.
- It provides them a greater likelihood of maintaining close relationships with their extended family on both sides.
- It makes it more likely that they will maintain their current school grades.
- It makes it more likely that they will maintain their current positive peer relationships.
- It makes it more likely that they will forego the temptation to use alcohol and drugs.
- It makes it more likely that they will not succumb to the post-divorce depression that so many children from divorced homes experience.
Benefits for you
Lest you think that joint custody benefits only your children, think again. It can also benefit you by making your post-divorce relationship with your former spouse more friendly and cooperative.
