Family Law

Ten Things Your Children Will Thank You For

By J. Benjamin Stevens

If you truly love your children, you should consider the following list of ten things that your children will thank you for: 

1. Keeping arguments away from them and avoid criticism of the other parent.
2. Being able to talk to the other parent about their needs (even though it may be hard sometimes)
3. Allowing them to miss the other parent and make contact when they want to, even encouraging contact when you think they might want it.
4. Recognise they have feelings which might be confusing and contradictory.
5. Ask them what they think and listen to what they say (but do not make them responsible for decisions)
6. Value them as developing people with their own friends and networks
7. Remember they can cope with different rules so long as they know what to expect in each household.
8. Be consistent about arrangements made and not letting them down
9. Be flexible to their changing needs.
10. KNOWING THEY LOVE YOU BOTH AND WANT TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THEIR LOVE

Source:  "10 Things Your Children Will Thank You For" published by Woolley and Co. Solicitors. Thanks to Sam Hasler for his post about this article at his Indiana Divorce & Family Law Blog.

Full post as published by SC Family Law Blog on March 29, 2010 (boomark / email).