Children often blame themselves for their parents getting a divorce, and this self-blame can leave a scar on a child’s psyche; a scar that they can carry with them into adulthood. According to the Child Mind Institute, children tend to blame themselves for the divorce when they are younger since younger children are usually more egocentric. If you are getting a divorce and are worried about how your children may handle the news, consulting with an experienced divorce attorney can give you the resources and information you need to help your children cope more effectively.

Considerations for Helping your Children During this Time

It is best to be as straightforward as possible when discussing divorce with your children. Try to avoid over-explaining things and instead discuss plainly what exactly is happening without sharing inappropriate details about the conflict or the relationship’s breakdown. It is best if both parents are there when these discussions occur. During this crucial time, emphasize that you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse love them very much and will continue to be a large part of their lives. 

It can also be helpful to put up a calendar for the children to see when they will spend time with each parent. This visual indicator of when they will be with either parent can reassure children that they will indeed be able to spend time with both parents. 

It is often stated that divorce is one of the hardest things that can happen to someone. The emotional turmoil that grips families during a divorce is hard to understate. Depending on the circumstances of the case, divorces can leave terrible emotional scars that can last a lifetime. This is especially true if the divorcing parties have children together. 

There is a significant number of mistakes that people can make during the divorce process. Amongst the most significant errors that can be made is failing to hire an experienced divorce attorney. Attorneys advocate for your rights and are trained to look after their clients’ best interests while pursuing the most favorable outcome. So, if you are getting divorced, do not hesitate to hire an attorney. Aside from not hiring an attorney, in this blog, we will review other common mistakes people tend to make during divorce. 

Costly Mistakes People Can Make During a Divorce

Common divorce mistakes may include: 

In an ideal world, every child would get to experience the joy of Christmas morning with both of his or her parents, but sadly, 'ideal' is not always what children get. According to the American Psychological Association, 90% of people marry before the age of 50, but 40 to 50% of those unions (at least, those that occur in the U.S.) end in divorce. As of November 17, 2016, 69% of children (those 18 or younger) lived with two parents; however, that percentage sharply decreased since 1960, when the percentage hovered at 88%. It is becoming the norm for children to grow up in a split household, but just because it is the norm, does that mean it is any easier? At Clark Law Groups, we know that it is not-especially during the holidays.

The Challenges Posed by the Holidays, and How You Can Overcome Them

Divorce forces couples to think about things they never would have given a second thought to before, one of which is, how do we split up the holidays? Who gets the child on Christmas Eve, and who gets to wake up with them on Christmas morning? Should they split the day, 50/50, or do every other year? Which parent gets to uphold which family traditions? How do the parents make sure that the child does not miss out on family time with either set of grandparents and cousins, aunts and uncles?

Before you and your spouse got a divorce, you loved taking last minute vacations to the Gulf Coast, or going on spontaneous road trips to the Grand Canyon, and even though you and her are now divorced, your love for spontaneity has not changed. You are tempted to pick up and go-with your child, of course-on your next adventure, but then you wonder: Do you need permission from your child's other parent first? The answer is yes. This is especially true if you plan on crossing state or international borders, as you may need several forms of identification-including proof of mailing address-to get back home.

Taking a trip with a child almost always involves extensive planning, but if you are a divorced parent, 'almost' becomes 'always.' However, this is for both yours and your child's safety. These rules were put in place to protect children from kidnapping, and to prevent you from being charged with kidnapping. For these reasons, consider these common issues parents face when planning travel with kids post divorce.

Parental Interference

When it comes to divorce, custody-or conservatorship, as it is referred to as in Texas-is a primary concern for couples with children. Many parents feel that they are entitled to sole conservatorship. However, just because a parent feels that he or she is entitled to full custody does not mean that the parent actually is. The state of Texas, and most states throughout the union, for that matter, believe that joint parenting is best for children of divorce. Joint custody allows both parents to foster a healthy relationship with the child, which is considered to be in their best interests. However, every once in a while, joint custody is not in the best interests of the child, in which case, the judge will seriously consider sole conservatorship. If you believe that you deserve sole custody of your child, work with the Dallas child custody attorneys at Clark Law Group to learn more about sole managing conservatorship and what circumstances warrant such a ruling.

Sole Managing Conservatorship Vs. Joint Managing Conservatorship

In Dallas, if a parent is granted sole managing conservatorship, it means that they are the only parent who is legally allowed to make any decisions in regards to the child, including but not limited to health care choices, schooling decisions, and determining which religion the child should practice. If a couple is granted joint managing conservatorship, it means that they must share the responsibility of making decisions regarding the child. However, joint managing conservatorship does not necessarily mean that both parties will share physical custody of the child; one parent may still receive fewer visitation rights than the other if the courts believe that to be the best thing for the child.