Separation Parent Information Programme - Why should I do that?

                                        

Lord Justice Wall, a leading family judge, told warring husbands and wives: “There is nothing worse for most children than for their parents to denigrate each other.”' He warned middle-class parents can damage their children permanently by using them as ammunition in the divorce courts.

He said that in family break-ups parents rarely behave reasonably and intelligent parents are often the worst.

“Often the parties are fighting over again the battles of the relationship, and the children are both the battlefield and the ammunition,” he said.

In his speech to the pressure group Families Need Fathers, he said: “Separating parents who are unable to resolve issues between themselves rarely act reasonably....People think that post-separation parenting is easy. In fact, it is exceedingly difficult, and as a rule of thumb my experience is that the more intelligent the parent, the more intractable the dispute.“

He said “Parents often find it difficult to understand that children both love and have a loyalty to both parents. There is nothing worse, for most children, than for their parents to denigrate each other.”

'To use the trite phrase, each parent represents 50 per cent of the child's gene pool. If a child's mother makes it clear to the child that his or her father is worthless - and vice versa - the child's sense of self-worth can be irredeemably damaged.”

Lord Justice Wall went on to say “Parents simply do not realise the damage they do to their children by the battles they wage over them. A child is not a piece of property which can be parcelled up and moved around”

The Separation Parent Information Programme is essentially an eye opening look at what you and your husband/wife could be subjecting your child to.  The classes are delivered by specially trained mediators and they are managed by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass). 

The focus is on the impact of separation proceedings on children. The parents watch a video that shows children saying how they feel about their parents arguing, and highlighting the damage that this can cause. They are also then helped to look at ways to reduce conflict and to communicate better. Cafcass has said that feedback was “positive”.

If you and your husband/wife would like to know more please contact Jo Thurlow who will provide you with more information on 01432 278 179 or jt@kidwellssolicitors.co.uk