Divorces often resemble the marriages that preceded them. For example, angry couples may still be angry during a divorce, and this feeling can carry on into the time after the divorce as well. Not only can acrimonious interactions make the process of the divorce itself more difficult, but if there are children, co-parenting can be stressful. There are steps that you can take that can reduce some of the emotions around the divorce and that will allow you to have a healthier relationship.
Friends and family
You may have vented to friends and family members about your ex when the marriage was failing or while you were going through the divorce; however, you may want to make an effort to repair some of the damage done by those conversations. It is better to avoid forcing loved ones to choose between the two of you. Above all, you should not drag your children into the middle of any conflict.
Making amends and setting boundaries
You should also acknowledge your part in the end of the relationship since divorce rarely happens solely because of one person’s actions. If you kept personal items in the divorce that were meaningful to your ex-spouse, you might want to consider whether you should return them. At the same time, you should make a point to set boundaries, separating your life from theirs and keeping your dating life and other personal things private.
You might even want to consider trying to follow these practices during the divorce process itself. While you may need to fight to get the agreement for property division or child custody that you need, it is sometimes possible to reach this agreement with the assistance of your attorney but without going to court. You may want to discuss with your attorney whether it may be possible to use negotiation or mediation in your divorce.