Knoxville, Tennessee Family Law Blog

A divorce can be a period of adjustment for both children and parents in Tennessee and throughout the country. Parents may feel frustrated or as if they are competing with each other while the children often aren't sure how to process what is happening in their lives. For noncustodial parents, it can feel like a challenge to make the most of whatever time that they are entitled to with their children.

However, keeping lines of communication open can make it easier for parents to get along with each other. By talking directly to each other, it keeps the children from acting as messengers or otherwise being stuck in the middle of a conflict between two adults. It is also important to establish a routine for the sake of the children. They tend to do better when they have consistency and know where they will be at any given time.

Co-parenting after going through a divorce can be challenging, but raising a healthy and happy child should be the priority for both exes. Children often absorb quite a bit during a divorce, and any negativity that they experience could impact them for many years to come. With a little bit of planning and some patience, divorcees throughout Tennessee and the rest of the country can make sure that they raise happy, healthy and well-adjusted children.

A divorced couple will have a tough time raising a child unless both parties commit to a few important ideals. Co-parenting is much easier if the parents agree that their children are going to need them both equally. They should also realize that the way they treat each other will influence the well-being of their kids. When parents are cold or downright hostile to one another, the children are going to pick up on that tension.

Family law judges in Tennessee and around the country consider the best interests of the child when making custody decisions, and most of the research in this area suggests that the children of divorce fare best when they have the opportunity to spend time with both of their parents. This means that co-parenting solutions are becoming increasingly common, but this type of arrangement requires all of the parties involved to make a concerted effort and remain committed to a common goal.

Divorced parents often harbor resentment and animosity toward one another, but these feelings must be put aside for co-parenting arrangements to be successful. Child psychologists say that divorced parents should set similar house rules and avoid criticizing their former spouses in front of their children. They should also identify possible areas of disagreement and take steps to prevent further conflict.

While Tennessee Republican representative Diane Black has garnered attention for her vocal support for adoption, LGBTQIA couples and individuals seeking to adopt have not felt that same level of support. Black has spoken about adoption on Twitter as well as in Congress since 2015. However, prior to her appearance on the national political scene, she proposed a bill in Tennessee in 2005 that would bar "homosexuals from adopting".

While many politicians have changed their views on the rights of LGBTQIA people over the years, with a massive increase in support for gay marriage, for example, recent statements indicate that Black has not changed her perspective on adoption. In one debate, she spoke about the value of children having a mother and a father, a language choice that is often made specifically to distinguish same-sex couples. It also echoed her own sentiments expressed in the state legislature in 2005, when she said that the "value of the family" was weakened when children were placed with same-sex families.