Joint Custody: The Best Option for Children
Joint custody, when applicable, in which children spend an equal amount of time with both separated parents, causes a positive emotional environment for children of divorce, which further creates healthy family relations and avoids negative health effects.
Overall, joint custody has a positive impact in the mental health of children that are affected by divorce, which dramatically decreases when those children are not placed in a joint custody agreement.
Parent’s mental health influencing children’s mental health
In Kramer vs. Kramer, Ted, Billy’s father, suffers from some feelings of anger and depression when he initially separates from Joanna, furthermore causing Ted and Billy to grow distant; ultimately,
…show more content…
Undeniably, this corroborates the fact that joint custody positively impacts children as they have more than one emotional input to turn to when …show more content…
Therefore, Billy would have benefitted from joint custody throughout the duration where Joanna left because it was harder for Ted to accommodate all of Billy’s needs one hundred percent of the time, and while this was not entirely Ted’s fault, it negatively affected Billy and his needs.
Risk taking behavior
Children in joint custody households tend to take less health and safety related risks, such as smoking, drinking, crime, etc, as shown in a study where it was found that “Adolescents living in shared physical custody had… significantly lower rates [of risk taking behavior] than their counterparts from single-parent families” (Carlsund). This clearly demonstrates how joint custody can cause less risk taking behavior compared to children in sole custody households and how it positively impacts their well-being and safety.
In retrospect, joint custody causes children to obtain the best childhood possible and also provides stability within the mental and physical aspects of a child’s family
will always end up with the same results- no matter what. Billy could have began to
A Comparison of Mrs Casper, Mr Sugden and Mr Farthing's Treatment of Billy in Barry Hines' Billy's Last Stand
Billy constantly feels bad about the choices he makes. While Billy is in the ward, he is surrounded by many strong women who are all in charge. The main nurse, Nurse Ratched, is constantly watching over him due to her relationship with his mother, who doesn’t want him to grow up. With these expectations from his mother and Nurse Ratched, Billy conforms into a thirty year old man who is afraid to think for himself. Billy is still a virgin when he enters the ward, due to his mother not letting him think for himself. This causes Billy to constantly feel guilty and unhappy when he makes choices for himself, because those around him made him believe that he does not deserve to make his own choices. When Billy finally did something for himself
American Psychological Association (1994). Guidelines for Child Custody Evaluations in Divorce Proceedings. American Psychologist, 47, 1597-1611.
Kathy and Tommy’s special connection has been evident since the beginning of the story when Kathy tries to calm down Tommy during one of his tantrums. When they are around 16 years old, Tommy and Ruth start dating and for a brief period of time, Ruth and Tommy break up. Many of Kathy’s peers noticed the connection between Kathy and Tommy and deemed her the “natural successor” of who should date Tommy next. However, Ruth believed that she and Tommy belonged together and asked Kathy to convince Tommy to get back together with her. Tommy and Ruth begin dating again and remain dating until they leave the Cottages. With Kathy’s loyalty to both Ruth and Tommy, Ruth and Tommy’s relationship constantly complicates the dynamics of their friendship. However, Ruth saw the special relationship between Kathy and Tommy all along and did not admit it until she and Tommy are donors and Kathy is a carer. Ruth asks for Kathy’s forgiveness and admits that keeping Tommy and her apart was the worst thing she did. Ruth then says, “ I’m not even asking you to forgive...
For children, the divorce process is just as uncomfortable. It might be the end of everything they’ve ever known to be comforting, or true. It raises questions, creates anger, sadness and shame. When parental conflict is added to the upheaval of everyday life for a child, it can have many adverse effects: depression, lowered self-worth, social withdrawal, lack of concentration in school, and it can change how a child handles their own relationships as an adult.
Divorce is a heavy concept that has many implications for those involved. The situation becomes even more consequential when children are considered. As divorce has become more commonplace in society, millions of children are affected by the separation of the nuclear family. How far-reaching are these effects? And is there a time when divorce is beneficial to the lives of the children? This paper will examine some of the major research and several different perspectives regarding the outcomes of divorce for the children involved, and whether it can actually be in the best interest of the kids.
Billy is not happy to stay behind and tells the elderly couple not to mess with him because he knows they don’t really want to keep him and he knows that he has just been dumped off. The couple
What people must understand is that properly raising a child does not rely on the structure of a family but should be more focused on the process When a topic such as this one has a broad amount of variables it is impossible to simply link these problems to only having one parent. In the article, “Single-parent families cause juvenile crime”, author Robert L. Maginnis states, “Children from single-parent families are more likely to have behavior problems because they tend to lack economic security and adequate time with parents”. The simple statement that raw criminals are products of single-parent adolescence is absurd. What this writer must understand is that it can be extremely difficult for one parent to raise a child by themselves for many reasons. A single-parent must work full time to be able to afford to provide for themselves and their child.
The argument over how divorce affects children is one that has been going on for a very long time. Some people believe when parents get a divorce the children are not affected at all, while others believe when parents get a divorce the children are affected by the impact of divorce more than anyone in the family. In some cases, married couples can be in such a terrible marriage that divorce can in no way be avoided, and these divorces are usually the ones that children benefit from and are affected in a positive way. Many times though, a couple will choose to get a divorce because their marriage is not exactly the way it used to be, and they want that aspect of life back; these are the divorces that negatively affect children. Even though in some cases divorce does not affect children negatively, many times when parents obtain a divorce, the children are negatively harmed in many different ways that will forever change their lives.
Another cause that affects a child with divorced parents is that the child may have a more stressful life. The child may have to change schools with any move that may result from the divorce. Also, if the child is not old enough to take care of himself or herself and the now single parent works, the child would probably have to start attending a child care program. A child could have to alternate between parents in different houses which is also very hard on a child. The adjustments to different settings and what days he or she is at which house can be confusing and stressful.
Arkowitz, Hal, and Scott O. Lilienfeld. (2013). "Is Divorce Bad for Children?". Scientific American Mind. 24(1).
Even though divorce is not commonly thought of as a good thing, it sometimes can have a positive outcome such as the children and parents being happy, and allowing the children to mature. Parents being separated can be better for the kids because they won’t have to deal with the parents fighting. If the kids are put in a better and stable environment it can affect them in positive ways. Sometimes divorce is better for the child if they have been in the environm...
"These researchers compared children from divorced parents to children from married parents on a variety of behavioral and emotional measures." Cherlin, J. A, (2000). Children usually get put on sidelines during the process of divorce court. Parents often argue who gets custody of the child (ren) but has anyone ever questioned them to see what they wanted. I was not given the choice to pick which parent I wanted to reside. I wish I could have been considered when it was being discussed. Not that it wouldn 't have made a difference for me, both parents still shared custody
So, in conclusion, divorce is very bad for children. It ruins their lives and happiness. Losing a parent destroys a child emotionally, mentally and even academically. They would rather live with both parents because both of them are an important part of their lives. Two parents are better than one!