Divorce doesn’t scar children – parents’ bad behavior does!
This might sound a little harsh but it is 100% true. The constant bickering, manipulation, and overall bad manners that parents drag their children through during a divorce is a damaging experience for everyone involved.
It is the crux of why some kids feel hurt, confused, stressed, and resentful of one or both of their parents.
Many experts agree that the level of hostility and conflict between parents is one of the top reasons why families, specifically children, are devastated by a divorce.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Today’s return guest, Sheila Adams Gardner, is a family law attorney, mediator, and co-parenting coach in Washington, D.C. She is the author of Two Houses One Family, a book that presents a positive outlook on the possibilities of a two household family.
Inspired by her own parents’ co-parenting journey, Sheila founded Cooperative Strategies Family Law to help parents create their own healthy two-household families. As a family law attorney, she knows firsthand how important it is to prioritize the well-being of children during an emotional and stressful time.
The divorce process is never a smooth transition; even when done on the best of terms it’s likely there will be some measure of difficulty. But you can dramatically minimize the negative effect it has on your children if you keep their well-being as your top priority.
We’re excited to have Sheila join us today to talk about what’s possible.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
- How Sheila, a child of divorced parents, benefited greatly from parents who were able to successfully co-parent
- How Sheila’s personal background and connection to divorced parents led her to write the book Two Houses, One Family
- How separating and divorcing parents can effectively model similar behaviors for the sake of their children
- What the long-lasting effects of successful co-parenting are on the children and the parents alike
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