When parents work together with experienced professionals, their children will not only survive but can thrive after divorce. When parents fight with each other, their children are torn apart by the “tug of war” and often carry the battle scars far into their adult years.
Although Husbands and Wives can terminate their marriage, they will always be parents. There is a lifetime of important moments ahead, like graduations, weddings, and grandchildren. It is far better for your children if you make these moments of comfort through cooperation rather than discomfort and tension. The best gift you can give a child of separation or divorce is a healthy co-parenting relationship.
Helping children cope with divorce is the top priority for the mediators at Alpha Center. Parents meet together with a Parenting-Mediator who has the training and expertise to know what children need when their parents separate or divorce. They can advise parents on when to tell the children about your changing relationship and what to tell them.
Since parents have the most expertise about their own children, they help the Therapist-Mediator understand the unique nature of their children and the challenges of their individual situations.
Together these three “experts” create a plan for transitioning the children into separate households and ensuring that they get all the love and support from both parents that they need in the future.
The Parenting Agreement sets standards for a healthy co-parenting relationship as well as weekly, holiday, and vacation schedules. The Agreement will also address the healthiest way to introduce their children to new romantic partners the divorcing spouses may find.
Parents are encouraged to follow the plan but also to be flexible when the schedule needs to be adjusted for them or the children.