On September 6, 2011 the Journal published an article on children and divorce in its Personal Journal section (D1)

The article contained some standard advice on how to establish parenting plans for post divorce life that put the “best interests of the children” first. The suggestions were based on the idea that the parents divorced, not the children and that even couples who hated each other could develop workable plans.

Oi vay! You should read the comments sent to the paper from disgruntled parents and the children of divorce. You would think that trying to get along for the sake of the kids was a crime. One letter to the editor from a child whose parents had divorced 40 years ago preferred couples who kept fighting instead of faking cooperation.

Mediators are called on regularly to help cooperating couples establish these plans. (Sometimes we have to educate them about the wisdom of cooperating – Dads who are not given enough time with their kids have a greater likelihood of skipping support payments).

It may be true that there is a bit of hypocrisy in cooperating with your soon-to-be- ex(didn’t you get a divorce because you couldn’t stand the other person?), but it’s better than keeeping up a fight that only hurts the kids.