Why Mediation is the best process of getting divorced when you have children.
The majority of my clients are parents. Their top priority is the care and protection of their children. All parents can agree they want the best for their children—but what that looks like may differ between parents or by the couple.
Mediation provides a safe environment for parents to discuss what is best for their children, from parenting time arrangements, payment of child expenses, college expenses/expectations, or the introduction of new partners/families.
At Family Circle Mediation we aim to create agreements that are detailed enough to provide every party with structure and stability for the child, but flexible enough to be modified when parenting arrangements need to change. Life changes and the arrangements should accommodate that. Furthermore, parents can add details that reflect the specific circumstances of their own family. Such as a parent who travels for work, or when extended family needs to be considered in the parenting time arrangements, or for children who attend boarding school. Mediation gives parents the time to try out different arrangements to see what works and what doesn’t work without having an arrangement imposed by the court.
Mediation provides an amicable avenue for parents to get separated/divorced. It is extremely important to minimize interference in a child’s life, reduce drama, and demonstrate to your children that you can show respect to one another during co-parenting. When this is achieved children feel less that they have to “choose” between parents, or stuck in a high-conflict environment, or witness one parent putting down the other. Even after separation, parents remain in each others lives through the their children. Parents will see each other continually during the life events of the child. Parents who can build an amiable co-parenting relationship now will only help their children’s lives. Below is a video that helps explain the effect of trauma on children that can be caused by hostile divorces/relationships.
Related blogs on the benefits of mediation for children of divorcing parents:
https://www.familycirclemediation.com/blog/extended-families
https://www.familycirclemediation.com/blog/summertime-parenting
