There is an excellent documentary movie called Split (www.splitfilm.org) that was released in 2013, which looks at divorce from the vantage point of the children of divorce. There is an excellent trailer at their website and the complete movie can be purchased on DVD.
Split offers a realistic and sometimes heartbreaking look at how children are often affected with the separation and divorce of their parents. Although children can be resilient, divorce can have a life-long impact on children depending on how their parents handle their divorce.
The reality is that divorce is never easy on anyone, i.e. parents or children. However, parents can do much to reduce the stress of divorce for children and shield them from the conflict and disputes. For instance, parents should avoid arguing or verbally fighting with each other in front of their children. Use emails or other online resources for communications regarding parenting (such as www.ourfamilywizard.com) when face-to-face communications are difficult. Also, do not put the children in the middle. Do not make them have to choose between which parent to live with or side with. Work as a parental team as much as possible. Your children should not know everything going on in your divorce. They are your child, not your friend, so don’t treat them as some sort of sounding board because you think they are old enough to understand and you feel like you do not have anyone else to talk to. Do the right thing, because it is not all about you or your spouse. Your children should be your focus first and foremost and that in turn will make the divorce itself easier to resolve and also produce a good, functioning parenting relationship after your divorce is done.
For further information or to schedule a consultation with Orange County divorce attorney Gerald Maggio of The Maggio Law Firm, please call (949) 553-0304 or visit www.maggiolawfirm.com. The Maggio Law Firm is an experienced Orange County divorce and family law firm serving the Orange County and Riverside areas and neighboring counties, serving clients with legal issues including divorce, legal separation, prenuptial agreements, divorce mediation, and other family law issues.
