When Minnesota parents file for divorce, the future of the children is a central concern. According to the president of Amity Mediation Workshop, even the best efforts by parents to keep the interests children at the center of the process are often undermined by emotional stress and ingrained communication patterns. Rather than accepting this in an atmosphere of financial challenges and hotly contested divorce issues, the author offers pointed questions for parents best used as a prelude to mediation.
At the core of co-parenting is intention of the participants. The legal end of the marriage with divorce symbolize the emotional and physical end as well, but parents continue to interact for the stability of the children. How they do so starts with their intention to pursue a particular co-parenting style.
Regardless of child custody decisions and other divorce issues, parents can decide to be hostile or exhibit good will. Depending on the age of the child and specific needs, they also decide whether frequent or as needed communication will work best. Assessment of the parents’ ability to carry out their intentions follows a question formula. Some questions focus on the past paradigm of communication, and others ask about the necessary changes to meet stated goals.
Emotional stress is a part of every divorce, and people tend to revert to past forms of communication when under stress, even when it opposes their goals. Minnesota parents can start to address some of this stress with the assistance of an attorney with experience in family law. An attorney can remove the pressure of self-advocacy and make recommendations regarding property division, spousal support and other divorce issues. As someone who is familiar with family law professionals from many backgrounds, an attorney can also suggest mediators and other ancillary service providers.