Divorce proceedings drastically alter the lives of everyone in a family. When parents separate, the standard of living for the family may change. The same resources and income have to support two separate households now.
Additionally, if there are minor children, they have to adjust to traveling back and forth between two homes. Divorce can be very stressful and disruptive for children. They may have mental health challenges as a result of their parents divorcing. Their academic performance may decline. They may even withdraw from many of their relationships as they grieve the changes to their families.
Parents contemplating divorce often worry about how to limit the negative impact on their children. Divorce mediation can be an excellent alternative for parents who want to reduce the stress on their children when they divorce.
How can mediation help children?
There are several ways in which divorce mediation can benefit the children in the family. The first is by limiting the level of conflict between the parents. The more disagreements the children witness, the harder it may be for them to heal.
Mediation requires that parents communicate and work together, which may mean that they can start repairing their dynamic instead of worsening it by fighting their way through a litigated divorce. The cooperative approach required for mediation is therefore beneficial for everyone in the family.
The second key way that divorce mediation benefits children is by eliminating any pressure on them to express custody preferences. If parents litigate custody matters, older children may have to provide information about their preferences. Doing so can be a profound source of stress for the children, who may worry about damaging their bond with their parents. When parents successfully settle custody matters in mediation, children don’t have to articulate their preferences on the issue.
Mediation can also be useful because it allows parents to create custody arrangements that truly prioritize what is best for the children. Judges may attempt to craft individualized custody orders, but parents obviously understand their circumstances and their children better than a judge ever could.
Finally, mediation can benefit children by limiting how much their parents spend on a divorce. The more that parents must litigate in court, the more they likely need to pay to divorce. Those who successfully mediate divorce disputes can potentially reduce their expenses.
Discussing the possibility of divorce mediation can be beneficial for parents with minor children. Parents who recognize the benefits of mediation can take steps to protect their children during a difficult time.
