Special Needs Children and Divorce

 Posted on June 10, 2016 in Children and Divorce

Children do not cause divorce. However, conflicts regarding their care can drive a couple toward divorce. The most common causes of divorce in the United States are a lack of commitment to the marriage, infidelity, and continual conflict between the partners. These conflicts can be about how the money is handled, how the household chores are divided, or, as any parent knows, issues related to the couple's children. Sometimes, these issues are severe to the point that couples divorce because of ongoing difficulties related to the care of their children and an inability to work together to overcome these difficulties.

But how can you combat these difficulties in your marriage or discuss them without sounding like a monster? Nobody wants to blame their marital issues on their child but the truth is, raising children is difficult and often tests a couple's ability to work together constructively. Extreme behavior problems, difficulty integrating a spouse's child into your new marriage, a child's mental or physical disability, or a case of drastically different parenting perspectives can stress a marriage to its breaking point and result in divorce for a couple.

A Child's Special Needs Can Take a Toll on Their Parents' Relationship

Parents of autistic children are more likely to divorce than parents of neurotypical children. Raising autistic children as well as children with other special needs can be more stressful than raising children without special needs, which can fuel disagreements about medical procedures, schooling, and the child's prospects regarding working and living on his or her own as an adult. Budgets in these households are often stretched thinner than households without special needs children, which can also spark a higher level of conflict among parents.

Parents with children who have special needs often have to actively schedule time for themselves. Otherwise, caring for their children can become a 24/7 job. Parents can also seek help from support groups for parents of children with special needs to talk through their struggles. If you feel like caring for your child is putting a strain on your marriage, schedule a session with a licensed marriage counselor. He or she can help you identify stressors in your life and strategies for working through them.

Sometimes, Divorce Is the Healthiest Option for Children

If your marriage is strained to the point that you are considering divorce, do not think of it as a personal failure. In many cases, divorce is actually the healthiest option for a couple's children because it eliminates the daily conflict they were exposed to during the marriage. Remember, it is not in anybody's best interest to "stay together for the kids."

Work with a Kane County Divorce Attorney

No matter why you are considering a divorce, it is important that you thoroughly discuss the divorce process and your rights as a parent with an experienced divorce attorney before you move forward with it. Speak with one of the experienced Kane County divorce attorneys at the Goostree Law Group to learn more. Contact our firm today to schedule your free legal consultation with a member of our team.

Sources:

http://www.divorce.usu.edu/files/uploads/lesson3.pdf

http://www.jsonline.com/news/health/100266159.html