Splitting up when you have children together is a difficult situation, but it's one that requires you to do what's best for the kids. These cases require the parents to put their own differences aside and focus on what the children need.

There are several ways that you can make the negotiations less stressful. Let's look at two.

Don't let your feelings about your spouse affect parenting terms

You can't let your feelings about your spouse skew your view of how they are as a parent. A person who was a terrible spouse can be an excellent parent. When you're working out the terms of the parenting plan, don't let your feelings about your marriage shape your decisions. Each choice should be made solely on how it will impact the kids.

Set the terms for communication

Communication between parents should always be respectful and direct. Never try to use your child as a messenger because this could lead to misinformation and other challenging situations. Additionally, it puts your children in a precarious place because they're subjected to reactions they shouldn't be part of, and they have the stress of trying to remember everything they're asked to relay.

Trying to keep things on track during the required child custody negotiations is important. If you can get the parenting plan terms set quickly, your child can begin to fully adjust to the new way of life. Having experienced legal guidance as you do this can help you to come up with creative solutions to the issues at hand and to work towards the terms you believe on in your children's best interests.