Impact of Divorce

The Week recently printed an article on negative impacts of divorce on children.  You can read the article here.  It is a summary of research done around the world demonstrating how divorce negatively impacts children. Unlike the commonly known impacts of divorce on children and future relationships, this article identified some of the lesser known outcomes.  For example, children of divorce are much more likely to begin smoking in their lives as well as end up on prescriptions for ADHD (such as Ritalin).  Children of divorce often find less success in school and are more likely to drop out of school.  The article also points to research illustrating that children of divorce have more health concerns than children who’s parents remain married. What the article fails to explore is how the process of divorce may impact these outcomes. Parents can choose the process to divorce.  They could have an adversarial process, wrought with harsh communication, positional negotiations and overall negativity.  However, an alternative, peaceful process, such as collaborative divorce can preserve the positives in a relationship and help children thrive after the divorce is final. Divorce does not have to result in long-lasting negative outcomes.  A divorce done well, with care and concern, respect and honesty, can often lead to family structures that are better off than they were before the divorce.  Children can be protected in that process and have positive futures.  The negative consequences in the article are real (obviously the research shows as much), but a divorce done right can lead to much better outcomes for everyone. Contact a collaborative law professional if you want to learn more about divorcing well to protect everyone in the future.