If you are currently in the process of separating from or divorcing your spouse, you undoubtedly have a lot on your plate. You may, too, have concerns about how the change in the family dynamic might affect any children you and your spouse share, as family transitions can sometimes take an emotional toll on all involved.
If the relationship between you and your soon-to-be-former husband or wife is not particularly unpleasant, however, you may be able to minimize the emotional toll your divorce may take on your child by considering divorce mediation.
Understanding the mediation process
Unlike a traditional, litigated divorce that involves each party in the marriage finding and financing his or her own attorney, divorce mediation, also known as “friendly divorce,” involves both parties sitting down with a single, impartial party. That party, known as the mediator, will take an unbiased approach to working through any matters relating to the divorce, which might include spousal support arrangements, child custody arrangements and so on.
Why mediation can be easier on children
While an amicable divorce can prove easier on you, it can also do the same for your children. For one thing, it gives you and your spouse a chance to show your child that you can still work together despite the end of your marriage. It is also typically less emotionally taxing than a litigated divorce, so your child will be less likely to hear the two of you bad-mouthing one another, in court or otherwise. Joint custody arrangements are also more common in friendly divorces than in litigated ones, and joint custody arrangements, too, can have positive effects on children of divorce when compared with children who live with only one parent.
If you and your spouse can still stand to be in the same room with one another, you may want to consider undergoing mediation. It can prove advantageous for your children, and it typically costs far less, too.
