This Mother’s Day, Mariah Carey and ex-hubby Nick Cannon went for
dinner with their twins. Although the couple split years ago, Carey and Cannon seem to be comfortable
putting the children first, even taking them on a family trip to Disneyland
a few weeks ago. This is an example of co-parenting at its best.
Child custody disputes are often long and contentious. The negative emotions between
parents can be difficult to disguise from children, and it can become
hard for kids not to internalize these experiences. It sometimes takes
a lot of effort and discipline to minimize the negative impact of these
proceedings on the children. Even just one of the two parents staying
focused on the children’s well-being can yield great positive outcomes.
When parents cannot manage to work together to protect their children’s
interests, the children can struggle with depression, anxiety, future
relational issues and a variety of other mental health maladies.
What you can do to lessen any negative effects is simple. You can be civil
with your spouse, and do your best to support a healthy relationship between
them and the kids. This can be done through honouring your custody schedules,
not speaking poorly of your spouse to your kids or around them, and making
an effort to spend quality time with your children. This can reassure
them that they are still a priority in your life.
You can promote a shared understanding of boundaries and responsibilities
through the formation of a separation agreement. This is a written contract
that you can your spouse can collaborate on to spell out rights and responsibilities
on terms that work for you. For more information on how to create a binding
and inclusive separation agreement,
consult with a family law lawyer or visit our
website.