Online Divorce Book Store
The Best Books About Surviving Divorce

Surviving Divorce & Separation: Fighting and Using the Children as Pawns:

Quote: We cannot heal the wounds we do not feel. (S. R. Smalley)

Children are not pieces on a chess board. They are not to be played as pawns. Ask yourself, are you and/or your spouse guilty of this common but entirely counter-productive and damaging habit among divorcing spouses?

When you and your spouse put on the gloves for another round of verbal boxing whose corner do you think your children go to? They most likely run to their own rooms or out the door to a friend's house. What's worse, they most likely will go to some private internal space within their own hearts and minds, a place where despair festers and guilt eats away at them. "Mom and Dad are fighting. Is it my fault? Wouldn't they be happier and have more money if they didn't have to raise me?" The bottom line is you should not need to be reminded that your children are part of your divorce!

Children under 10 tend to "absorb" the atmosphere that surrounds them. They will tend to become moody or withdrawn when their parents fight. They become scared. To them, their world is falling apart. The security and nurturing they felt when both their parents used to cuddle and talk softly together with them is gone. They sense hostility and anger when they see or hear the arguements. Children soon believe that no time is the right time to approach either parent.

Children feel powerless and vulnerable when this pattern emerges. Children in divorce are often alone, feeling very lonely and sad. Their comfort is fading fast, replaced by the world of guilt, where everything (by their own perception) is their fault.

Children change their behavior, usually for the worse. Misbehaving gets them attention. "I'll just be bad, and they'll turn to me instead of each other. The nightmares that come later, well, I'll just deal with them in my sleep. Losing the guilt can wait, too. Right now, I just want their attention, and being bad will get it. At least that's what works for Mom and Dad with each other. "

Truth and Consequences
Do Not Leave the Children in the Dark
After the Fighting Stops, the Children are Alright! (case study)

Featured Books:The Divorce Bookstore
The Healthy Divorce
The Divorce Handbook
The Pocket Divorce Guide

Related Research Center Categories: Helpful Services:
After Divorce
Alcoholism
Attorneys and Clients
Attorney's Fees
Bankruptcy
Beginning Stages
Child Care
Communicating
Counseling
Creditor's Rights
Debts
Divorce Recovery
Drug Use
Legal Aid
Preliminary Relief
Relationships
Restraining Orders
Single Parenting
Starting Over
Support Groups
Surviving Divorce
Temporary Orders
Subsription Access to some research documents (those we license from independent legal research companies) are restricted to subscribers. In order to gain access to ALL of these documents, you must subscribe to establish an account. If you are already a subscriber, you may sign in before you begin your research. (Why Subscribe?)

Return to Surviving Divorce & Separation Informational Section


Divorce Tip: # 33 Laws regarding payment of alimony or spousal support do not discriminate. If the circumstances warrant it, a husband can be awarded support from the wife. Sponsored by: PensionAppraisalDesk.com.com


DS Home Archives Bulletin Menu Chat Rooms Family Law Links Publications Menu Dictionary


The Research Center: (Divorce Cases of Interest)Research Home
Find Case Law, Case Analysis, and Divorce Information...
Keyword(s)

Research Tips
Info Categories
Find Professionals
Children Issues
Financial Issues
Divorce Laws
Pensions Issues
Surviving Divorce
More...
Featured Products
Book Store
Download Center
Divorce Forms
Sep. Agreements
Win Custody
Par. Agreements
Modification Forms
Support Calculations
For Professionals
Join Directory
Free Web Pages
Advertising
Web Design
Web Marketing
About Us
Site Map
Terms & Conditions
Privacy Statement
Contact Us
Link to Us
Advertising

Advertise With Us

Copyright© 1996-2009. All rights reserved by Divorce Source, Inc.
Comments & Suggestions?