If you and your spouse are facing divorce, helping your children adjust to the family breakup is a goal that is not without its problems.
You worry about the effect of a lengthy court battle on the children. Mediation is an alternative to litigation that can help them adapt more easily to your divorce.
Staying in control
You know your children better than anyone. Mediation allows you to retain control over the outcome of your divorce. This means that you and the other parent, rather than a family court judge, will make decisions for your future, including how you will raise your children in a post-divorce world. The purpose of mediation is for you and your spouse to work out a divorce agreement that is satisfactory to you both. During mediation, you can also create your parenting plan for approval by the court.
Benefitting from open communication
Mediation focuses on the sharing of opinions and ideas through open communication between you and your spouse. Your ability to communicate as you work toward a settlement agreement is a skill you can use in building new family relationships once the divorce is behind you. Communication between you and the other parent and between both of you and your children will be important in the days to come.
Setting an example
Remember that children are sensitive to conflict. Where litigation often becomes contentious, your children can benefit from the peaceful, problem-solving atmosphere that mediation provides. Your ability to settle your differences through teamwork will set a good example for your children. Mediation allows you to address your children’s needs in a calm, reasonable manner and reduces the level of stress that often accompanies a public divorce in court.
