Divorce is never easy, but some methods are more stressful than others. When parents divorce, they have more than themselves to think about. While divorce may be better for the family in the long run, a high-conflict divorce does nobody any favors.
This is why more and more divorcing parents are turning to collaborative approaches like mediation. Mediation involves out-of-court negotiations designed to be fair to all parties. The idea is for the mediator to facilitate conversations and try and ensure that conflict remains low.
Here are a few reasons why a mediated divorce is better for the children.
It keeps children out of arguments
Unfortunately, in many high-conflict divorces, children find themselves used as pawns. Parents are often so angry with one another that they are unable to talk directly. They may use the children as messengers, and the messages being relayed usually aren’t positive.
Bad-mouthing a parent in front of a child has been shown to have negative psychological effects, especially when this occurs on a frequent basis. Children should be children, and they should not have to carry the burden of intense disagreements between parents.
It shows a united front
While divorcing spouses without children may simply be able to go their separate ways, this is not the case for parents. In one way or another, a parental relationship will have to continue. Parents will have to be able to communicate about issues affecting the children at the very least.
Mediation provides a platform for this. The emphasis is on communication, compromise and effective problem-solving. While the romantic side of the relationship may be done, parents can use mediation to show the child that their interests come first, no matter what. It’s a great opportunity for parents to show a united front, despite no longer being romantic partners.
In any divorce involving children, the best interests of the child should take priority. Mediation provides a great platform to do this. Seek legal guidance to find out more about the process.