Protecting Your Kids When It Comes to Divorce
Given that no two marriages are alike, there can never be a single answer to a question as complicated as whether a couple should try to hold their marriage together – despite both parties being unhappy and dissatisfied – for the sake of the children. Parental relationships can help shape a child’s sense of safety (or lack of it) and how they will eventually conduct themselves in romantic relationships when they get older. This is why so many parents struggle with the often-gut-wrenching decision about whether they should stay in an unhappy marriage for the sake of the kids or get a divorce.
Keep this in mind, however: if you decide to stay married to a spouse that you no longer want to be married to, and who also does not want to be married to you, it creates an unhappy atmosphere in the home. What good is it to your kids if you stay together, but you are miserable? What message does that send to your kids about what marriage should be like? When parents are focused on fighting with each other they are not focusing on giving the children the attention they need to flourish.
A tense environment in the home where there is constant fighting can have negative consequences for the children including:
- Struggling in school
- Emotional insecurity
- Problems in future relationships
- Increased likelihood of adult children getting a divorce
Living in two households might be better than in a single unhappy home
You are afraid that breaking up the family and forcing the children to have to shuttle back and forth between two households will be disruptive, and it will be. But the good news is that most kids will adjust to the new living arrangements when each parent tries to create a happy home and a comfortable environment for their children.
Kids are usually a lot more resilient than adults realize. The readjustment that they will go through during and after the divorce will eventually end, while the prospect of growing up in a home where parents are in constant conflict can have a long-term negative impact on the child’s development and on their future relationships.
Working with a skilled and compassionate Nashville divorce attorney will help you feel confident that the best interest of your children is being considered when it comes to the issue of child custody and support. Having a strong legal advocate is comforting when your life is being upended by divorce.
At Miller Upshaw Family Law, PLLC, we endeavor to inspire confidence and relieve the stress of divorce for our clients throughout Tennessee. We also handle all aspects of family law. Call us today at 615-391-4200 or fill out our contact form to reserve your consultation with an experienced Nashville divorce lawyer.
Karla C. Miller has devoted her entire career to the practice of family law in Tennessee. She attended Auburn University and Nashville School of Law, and upon graduation in 1996, she opened her own law firm and has been assisting families throughout Tennessee since then. Learn more about Karla C. Miller here.