The last thing any divorced dad wants to feel on Father’s Day is sorry for himself. This is a guaranteed day to see his kids and enjoy time as their parent. Unfortunately, this holiday can also lead to feelings that aren’t so fun, thinking of other days of the year that you don’t get to spend with your children. As you go through your Michigan divorce, you can craft what kind of divorced dad you want to be and, with your divorce lawyer’s help, make it a reality for the better of all involved.
Focus on an Amicable Divorce
You can do your kids and ex a favor by agreeing to an amicable divorce then actually following through. This can include mediation which is essentially a conversation to come to agreements about the major issues of your split – including child custody and parenting time. A 50-50 split of parenting time is the norm, and you and your ex can make this happen in multiple ways so it’s as easy as possible for your children – and when the kids are happy, the parents are happy.
Avoid Being Stubborn or Petty
Whatever happened in your marriage, it’s not your kids who are responsible for the end of the union, so avoid putting them in the middle of it. This might mean keeping quiet at times when you might prefer to speak up, as long as it’s in the best interest of minor children. This might mean giving in when you would rather fight, just because of the principal of the thing. Confusing your kids to win a battle or two in the divorce war, or with a post-judgment action, isn’t worth the effort or strain.
Prioritize Your Kids
If you prioritize your kids in all parts of your divorce proceedings, your decision-making will follow and you just might find that your divorce is less painful than it could have been. When your choices benefit the people you love the most, you may be willing to make concessions. The goal, after all, is not to harm your ex or punish them in some way financially or emotionally – focus on the truth which is putting your kids first.
Think About the Future
Eventually, your kids will grow up and they will remember what it was like living through their parents’ divorce. You have every right to say what you need to say to your ex and let your feelings be known, but keeping your children in mind at the same time can help you save everyone involved from a lot of emotional upheaval and from turning into that caricature of a disgruntled divorced dad. There’s a lot to be said for getting along and making the smallest effort to do so. After all, you and your ex had kids together – there is something good somewhere to build upon. If you can find that goodness, your Michigan divorce could be much simpler and easier.
Helping Divorced Dads in Michigan
Get the support you need during your divorce from Michigan Divorce Help in Mt. Clemens, MI. Contact us for an initial consultation to discuss parenting time, child custody, and interim orders.
This blog post is not a substitute for legal advice.