Maintaining Natural Family Relations

It always comes as a surprise to divorcing couples when the in-laws — the folks who were so close, the ones they confided in when the marriage was starting to unravel, the ones who babysat when they were trying to work things out with the spouse — support their child. You’d think folks would understand that circling the wagons is normal for any family going through a crisis, but most people are surprised anyway.

If this happens in your family, it is one area where you need to be especially vigilant of separating your feelings about your spouse from your actions with your kids. One of the things courts in Maryland look for when deciding a custody case is which parent is most supportive of the relationship the children have with the extended family of the other parent. And when you think about it, it makes sense. Your kids aren’t divorcing either of you, they shouldn’t have to divorce their grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins either!