When a couple gets a divorce, it can be an extremely stressful and emotionally exhausting experience. This is magnified when there are children involved. While spouses may divorce one another, they do not divorce their children and so they must find ways to co-parent despite their differences. Despite the challenges, there are some steps every parent can take that will help smooth the way for a successfully co-parenting relationship.
An important tip to remember is that parents may have issues with one another, but these issues should not affect their children. It is important to project a unified front as parents and avoid any disparaging remarks about the other parent. Issues should be dealt with privately out of earshot of your children. It is far better for the welfare of your children for both parents to be supportive of one another and for each of you to encourage your child to build a relationship with the other.
While couples divorce for a variety of reasons, it is common for children to believe they are somehow at fault. Children, especially when they are young, are not able to grasp the complexities that accompany adult relationships and so they view them through the narrow terms of their own understanding. It is important for you to talk to your children and do your best to answer any questions they may have while keeping in mind they should not be privy to the details of the divorce. Let them know their parents still them and that the divorce is not their fault.
Finally, try your hardest to keep the lines of communication open between you and your former partner. Over the years, you will need to discuss your children and make decisions about their future together. It is imperative that you build a strong parental team with your ex to handle these matters and offer consistent guidance and discipline.
If you are about to get a divorce and have questions about child custody or visitation, consult the skilled Minnesota family law attorneys at Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.
"Tori had a thorough understanding of my situation and made excellent recommendations to resolve my concerns. She was persistent on communication and handled everything in a very timely manner. I would definitely hire her again in the future if needed." - M.K.
"With Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A., it is like having a family physician. They are all knowledgeable, thorough, comforting, and the only call I need to make for all my legal needs for many years to come. No matter what the matter, I totally trust their advice and commitment to me and my family." - J.N.
"Mary from APH Law helped me thru a difficult divorce. She and the entire staff was there for me every step of the way helping me on what to do next. They listened to what I wanted and helped me achieve what matter the most to me in the divorce settlement." - Dana C.
"I chose APH after my initial consultation with Mary. I felt my best interest would be represented. The entire process went excellent, the attorneys and staff communicated effectively and efficiently with me throughout the process as they needed to. Being new to the legal process and verbiage, they walked me and talked me through the next steps and the jargon, I felt completely comfortable and represented. I hope I never have to use legal services again but if I do I will call Mary at APH Law and know that I will be taken care of." - Jeff M.
"Divorce is a time of emotion and stress. Mary Pfeifer , My lawyer was professional and compassionate. She was very informative through the process. Her insight helped me in my decisions. She worked hard to obtain a settlement which was fair to both parties. Though, I hope I won't need her help again. It is reassuring to know a good person that is willing to help." - Rod S.
"I first came to Ms. Jacquelyn Lutz of Appelhof, Pfeifer and Hart in October of 2016. It was definitely the worst time in my life and she compassionately spoke with me about my options. Ms. Lutz thoroughly explained the laws, statutes, process and what to expect going forward. What was supposed to be one case, turned into three intricate cases that took a huge toll on me and my family. Ms. Lutz represented me in court on all three cases with a vast knowledge of the laws and how to proceed accordingly. During all three cases she kept me informed, calm, gave me resources to utilize, and (most important) gave me a realistic view of what may come next. Ms. Lutz knew each case required a great deal of knowledge and creative thinking on how to legally proceed forward with each case. My family and friends are forever grateful for the amazing representation by Ms. Lutz. I highly recommend Ms. Lutz for anyone needing or considering superb representation for any kind of family law. " - M.H.