When you are going through a divorce, you might be focused on the technical and practical aspects of the split. Dealing with the property division, child custody and similar factors can become overwhelming. If you have children, you can’t lose sight of the fact that they are being impacted by the end of the marriage.
Children who are going through their parents’ divorce have some rights that you should remember. Not only can these help them to cope with the divorce, they also help them to learn how to thrive.
One of the most important things that you have to remember is that they have the right to be children. They aren’t miniature adults, so don’t expect them to deal with adult situations in an adult manner. The uncertainty that comes with a divorce can make life very stressful for a child, so make sure that you try to offer stability and consistency to the child.
Another right that children have is that they must be able to contact both parents. There should be free communication between both parents and the child. Of course, there are some situations that would limit this. Domestic violence is one example of something that might impact the suitability of the child contacting both parents.
No child should be used as a messenger or be subjected to fighting between their parents. It might be tempting to say “tell your mom” or “tell your dad, but this can cause confusion. Instead, you should relay messages directly to your ex. This takes the guesswork and possible misstatements out of the equation.
It isn’t your child’s fault that the marriage ended, so try to keep them from having to deal with too much drama because of the divorce. You can’t protect them from everything, but you can take steps to ensure their rights are respected.
Source: Our Family Wizard, “8 Rights Every Child Deserves After a Divorce,” accessed March 30, 2018