Children's Rights in Divorce

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For the divorcing couples, their children have utmost importance. The couple is very attentive when deciding issues like child support or child custody or parenting time. The children are empowered with certain children's rights in divorce that the parents must adhere to. This would ascertain a proper upbringing of the children. Most of the couples try to sort out the problems by talking to each other so that their children do not have to suffer. In order to see their children happy, many couples sacrifice their happiness and go on bearing the problems of an unhappy relationship.

Some brief points about Children's Rights in Divorce

• Children may opt to speak with a special adult (like special friend, therapist or counselor) regarding their issues and concerns. The counselor makes sure that he listens to the children with utmost patience and provides them the proper advice regarding the same.
• The child must be offered the most adequate level of economic support that is possible after the best efforts of the parents.
• The children cannot be stopped from keeping the photographs of their parents with them. They can keep photographs, belongings and can even talk to their parent as and when they feel like.
• Children have the right to remain a child, without being expected to shoulder parental responsibilities or play the role of a friend to the parents or be an adult companion. They have the full right to enjoy their childhood and become a responsible individual when it is time.
• One parent should not ask the child to spy in the other parent's residence. This is against the laws and it has a negative effect on the child as well.
• A child has a right to maintain a constructive and positive on-going relation with each parent and no one can stop the child from doing so. They have the full right to be loved by the parents.
• Upon return from the other parent's residence, the current parent must not ask questions regarding the other parent.
• The child is empowered to express their self feelings about the divorce like fear, sadness or anger. This helps them to overcome their fears so that they can start their life with strength and confidence.
• The parents of the child must communicate with one another regarding the illnesses, accidents, educational issues, psychological treatment and medical treatment of the child. This may be in written format.
• Parents should offer protection, discipline and care to the child so that they grows up to be a responsible citizen of the society and do not hold grudges against any one.
• The set of rules that a parent sets for the child must be consistent and predictable.
• Every child has the right to love both parents without developing any rejection or pressure or guilt because when these things enter a relationship, love slowly disappears.
• Both the parents must expose the child to their tastes in food, interests, hobbies and religious ideas (without shame).
• The child must be treated as an interested person and not as a possession or pawn. Thet should be allowed to do what they wish to and pursue their interests in terms of academics and profession.
• The child may ask a question to the parent and expect that an age-appropriate answer may be given by the parent. The answer should not comprise of blaming anybody or demeaning anyone.
• The child must have the freedom to contact the absent parent and speak on phone with him / her. During these steps, there must not be any tape-recording or eavesdropping.
• If one parent wants to communicate anger to another parent, it should not be done while the child is present as it would lead to negative effects on the mind of the child.
• If the child enjoys the company of one parent, the other parent should not make this child feel that the child is disloyal to him / her.
• The parent must not ask the child to take sides. Child cannot discriminate among the parents and that is why such things should be avoided.
• The parent should not question the child regarding the events in the other parents house.
• Children expect that their parents communicate with one another directly and so do not use the child as a messenger.
• The parents must repeatedly assure the child that it is not their fault for the parents divorce but because there were problems in the relationship. Answers should be given according to the age of the child.
• The child must continue to remain in contact with grandparents, relatives and special family friends as it will help them forget the pain of watch their parent part ways from one another.

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