The Do’s and Dont’s of Divorce

A divorce is an unusually stressful and difficult time for all involved.  Each spouse may at times be tempted to act in a less than rational or appropriate manner.  Please read these do’s and don’ts and carefully refer to them as necessary:

  1. Do unto your spouse as you would have them do unto you.
  2. Please consider the reaction to determine if the action is beneficial.
  3. Do not alienate the children from the other parent.  Children need to love both parents regardless of how the parents feel about each other.
  4. Do not discuss your marital problems with your children.  Please remember that you are the adults, with adult resources to handle the stress; they are chidren, with only a children’s capacity to live with conflict.  Urging a child directly or indirectly to take your negative feelings may have long term negative consequences.
  5. Keep or maintain trust at all costs. 
  6. Do pick up and return children at the time you have agreed upon.  Once that trust is broken, it is extremely difficult to regain.