10 Tips from a Former Judge to Make You a Better Parent after Separation and Divorce
A former Family Court Judge, Lawrence R. Jones, offers these tips – and an eye-opening music video – to help you become a better parent and help your children after separation and divorce.
Want to be a Better Parent to Your Children?
Here are 10 things to do – or not to do – to be a better parent and to help your children adjust to separation and divorce. Read these tips, then watch the video, below.
- Accept and support the reality that absent truly exigent circumstances, a child generally needs, and has a right, to have both parents in his or her life, even after separation or divorce;
- When dealing with the other parent, let your child see you act in a consistently mature and respectful manner;
- Do not talk negatively to your child, or in front of your child, about the other parent;
- Do not bring your child to your lawyer’s office;
- Do not interrogate your child about what the other parent is saying or doing;
- Do not make your child feel like he or she has to “choose sides” between parents;
- Do not embarrass your child by arguing with, or yelling at, the other parent in public;
- Do not show orders, affidavits, and other court papers to your child;
- Do not use your child as a messenger between parents;
- Do not obstruct your child’s opportunity to enjoy holiday time, vacations, and other positive experiences with the other parent.
“Point C”: a 5-Minute Fable for Separated or Divorced Parents
Lawrence R. Jones is the author of Point C. He served as a Family Court judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, U.S.A. until retiring from the Bench in 2017.
