Linda Nielsen, psychology professor at Wake Forest University (and author most recently of Between Fathers and Daughters), draws my attention to a BBC documentary now airing in the UK, “For the Sake of the Kids“:
One in three British children have parents who are separated, and it’s their relationship with the absent parent that’s the key factor in their long-term wellbeing. The first film follows two families, one locked in a long battle in the Family Court, and the other determined to stay out of court and manage the split themselves. The film explores the impact of separation on children’s lives and how decisions made in court play out in already troubled relationships.
Categories: Fatherhood
When families digress to the point of relying on the Courts and attorneys to settle family custody disputes, it is very seldom (in my opinion) that anyone wins, especially the children. Long legal Family Court battles only make attorneys richer and families poorer in many instances. If its the last and only thing parents do well together, it hopefully will be to set aside their feelings toward each other (usually quite negative) and focus on really what is best for the kids and logistically possible. I suppose one could argue that if they could do that, they why couldn’t they work on their relationship since it too, may be salvageable.