The post Ways to take care of your children’s mental health during your divorce appeared first on .
]]>As a parent, you may know in your bones that it is best for you and your spouse to get a divorce. You may even know that navigating this change is going to make you a better parent. But how do you take care of your child’s mental health during this critical transition? Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Parents are often surprised to find out that children think they caused the divorce. Parents know that the children didn’t have anything to do with it. But this is something that happens often because young children will engage in a process known as magical thinking. Children often think that they are impacting the world in a multitude of ways that they are not, and this can be distressing for them. Reassuring them that you love them and that this is not their fault can be highly beneficial.
Additionally, when you talk to your child about the divorce or any aspects of this process, give them time to talk, as well. Allow them to ask questions. Make sure they know that you’re really listening to them. Provide feedback. This may not make it easier for the child to accept what’s happening, but they can at least understand why it is occurring and feel like you were there to support them.
Finally, it’s helpful for children when they have consistency and they understand what is expected of them. This is why it’s important to cooperate with your co-parent regarding things like schedules and discipline, whenever possible and prudent. You’ll also want to avoid saying anything to belittle your spouse or blame them for the divorce. Ideally, you’ll work to help your child see that both you and their other parent love them unconditionally unless their other parent is unfit. In that scenario, as you and your child move together alone, working with a counselor to navigate the emotional challenges of that situation can be helpful.
As you move forward, be sure you know what legal steps will be required of you so that you can start to determine how you’ll support your child in unique ways as each unfolds.
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]]>The post Safety tips for pedestrians walking near the street appeared first on .
]]>So what can pedestrians do to stay safe? Thankfully, there are some important tips that they can keep in mind.
If possible, you should always try to use a sidewalk. But if there is not one, remember that you’re supposed to walk facing traffic, not moving with traffic. Cyclists are supposed to ride with traffic, and people sometimes will mix up the two.
Your best defense is visibility. If you’re walking at night, consider headlamps, LED lights or reflective tape. Even during the day, it is wise to wear bright colors. Many accidents happen when drivers do not see pedestrians at all.
Always cross at crosswalks. Pay close attention to traffic laws and consider where drivers expect you to be. This can help to keep you safe and it means that a driver will be solely liable if you are hurt.
Finally, it’s also important to avoid distractions when you’re around cars. This means leaving your headphones at home so that you don’t get distracted by music or audiobooks. Do not text or browse social media while walking.
Unfortunately, you can do everything right as a pedestrian and still be injured when a driver makes a mistake. Be sure you know how to seek financial compensation.
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]]>The post How does the court determine the best interests of a child? appeared first on .
]]>All child custody decisions hinge on the doctrine of the best interests of the child. But what exactly does this mean?
There is no straightforward definition of “the best interests of the child” because every child is different. That said, the court makes custody decisions based on what it believes to be best for the child’s short-term and long-term well-being and safety. Some of the factors the court considers when determining the best interests of the child include:
Every fit parent has a right to be involved in their child’s upbringing. Find out how you can protect your child’s best interests and parenting rights while litigating child custody to better ensure that your own parent-child relationship remains sufficiently protected.
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]]>The post Be safe and laissez les bon temps rouler! appeared first on .
]]>But that does not mean that celebrating Mardi Gras in any venue is completely safe. Any exuberant public celebration involving alcohol has the potential to turn dangerous or even deadly for the participants and spectators. If you are heading out to celebrate Cajun Mardi Gras this year, remember to keep yourself and your family members safe.
Anywhere there are big crowds, there is the potential for people to get separated from their group. Before merging with the crowd, choose a place to rendezvous in case you lose one another. Don’t depend on getting cellphone signals, as they are often overtaxed in large crowds.
In the crush of the crowd to grab trinkets, it is very easy for a child to stumble and get dragged under the wheels of a float. Make sure that your children never run up to the floats. Stay back and help them catch the beads and doubloons.
As you head home after the last parade, keep in mind that many of the drivers on those same roads may not be completely sober. Unfortunately, there is a rise in drunk driving during Carnival. If you or a family member gets injured in an accident this Carnival season, you should learn about your right to seek compensation for your injuries, damages and other losses.
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]]>The post 4 reasons to consider a prenuptial agreement appeared first on .
]]>Additionally, prenuptial agreements can be very valuable tools for those preparing for marriage, and there are numerous ways in which negotiating a prenuptial agreement can benefit both partners preparing for this life transition.
It is common for people to make specific financial arrangements in prenuptial agreements. They will have to make full disclosure of their assets and debts to one another and then discuss how they will maintain certain property separately. This process can help set a couple up for financial independence despite cohabitating, which will lead to a very straightforward divorce if one were to occur.
A prenuptial agreement can include certain protections for a parent who leaves the workforce during pregnancy or while raising the family’s children. Proactively offering certain property division concessions or spousal support arrangements based on how long someone stays out of the workforce is a common strategy for protecting one spouse from economic setbacks related to having children.
Some people start considering marriage with a very unrealistic idea of what will happen in the future. The process of negotiating a prenuptial agreement will involve discussing expectations for what each spouse will contribute to the marriage and what kind of future they will have together. Discussing expectations can help ensure that couples truly share the same values and may actually help establish a stronger foundation for the marital relationship.
It is possible to love someone while also recognizing that they have a pattern of potentially consequential behavior, such as alcoholism or compulsive shopping issues. Prenuptial agreements can be a place to address specific kinds of special misconduct and to protect one spouse from the actions of the other. It is even possible in some cases to assign a financial penalty to certain kinds of misconduct in a prenuptial agreement.
Typically, a carefully considered prenuptial agreement will minimize the risks for both spouses and offer them equal protection. Drafting a prenuptial agreement can strengthen a marital relationship and also reduce the likelihood of a messy divorce if things sour between the spouses.
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]]>The post Are you allowed to adopt your foster child in Louisiana? appeared first on .
]]>While adoption is possible in many foster situations, you should understand that it is not always an option. It usually depends on whether the biological parents are alive with their parental rights intact.
Most children in foster care have parents working to reunite the family. The court may have temporarily removed the kids due to parental substance abuse or other issues that put children at risk.
The first goal of social workers is to help reunify these families. When successful, the kids will return to their biological parents. Although this means the system can work, it leaves foster parents hoping to adopt devastated.
If the biological parents fail to complete their part of the reunification plan, they may lose their parental rights, making the child eligible for adoption. However, that does not mean the foster parent is the first choice.
The child may have other relatives who want to care for them permanently. Adoption preference typically goes to a qualified biological relative. If the child has no eligible or interested relatives, Louisiana caseworkers then look to foster parents to find a permanent home for the child.
You may have fallen in love with your current foster child, but many more children need a lifelong family. Consider exploring other ways to adopt if you still long to fill a space in your life.
Contact our family law lawyers in Lafayette, Louisiana today by calling 337-704-7255 or online to discuss your legal issues at Southern Oaks Law Firm who cares about your future.
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]]>The post Ways to take care of children’s mental health during a divorce appeared first on .
]]>But you may expect a lot more challenges as psychological problems may surface. Suddenly, your children must adjust and may experience anxiety and depression.
There is no question that divorce is hard on children. Abruptly, they find themselves in the middle of a push-and-pull scenario between their parents.
Your children may act out through tantrums that you may have never seen before. Their school grades may plummet and their social interactions with you, their friends and classmates may turn awkward or become nonexistent.
They may even want to harm themselves. In some situations, counseling and therapy may help your child.
A key factor is to talk with your children. Communication is essential. In divorce, you will likely have to take some extra steps, too. Here are some of those necessary steps:
Pay careful attention to your children and guide them through this difficult time. These are just a few things that may help.
The mental health of your children must remain a priority, especially during times of divorce. When divorce surfaces, your children may need additional guidance, so it is important for you to provide an important example. Listen to them, learn from them, and always love them.
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]]>The post 3 things to know about a concussion appeared first on .
]]>Traumatic brain injuries range from concussions up to more serious injuries that cause the person to be in a coma. If you’ve been in a car crash, remember these three points about concussions.
The symptoms of a brain injury can take hours or days to appear. The symptoms may start out minor and progressively get worse because the injury isn’t being treated.
One of the primary symptoms of a brain injury is a headache, but some people won’t experience that. Other symptoms include feeling groggy or having vision changes. Forgetting things, feeling confused and being clumsy are also possible. Some people may also have mood swings and changes in their sleep habits.
One of the primary treatments for a concussion is brain rest. This involves avoiding activities that use the brain, so you may be told it’s best to relax in a dark and quiet room for a while during the first few days after the injury. Other treatments include medication, surgery and therapy, depending on the type of injury you suffered.
People need to ensure they get medical care if they think they have a head injury. The exact care plan depends on the type and severity of the injury. Individuals injured in an incident related to another person’s negligence may seek compensation. This includes damages, such as medical care and missed wages. Louisiana law limits how long you have to file the claim, so act swiftly.
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]]>The post Would supervised visitation benefit your child? appeared first on .
]]>The family court is more than aware of this, which is why there are numerous options in terms of custody arrangements. One possibility is supervised visitation, which means that visits with the parent happen in a controlled environment where a responsible adult can take over if things become too much.
There are a number of reasons why supervised visitation might be beneficial for your child. Outlined below are a few things to consider.
It’s not uncommon for a parent to be unaware that they had a child until a few years down the line. In such cases, it can be overwhelming for both parent and child to jump into a full-time custodial arrangement. The family court may consider it better for the child to have supervised visits. This means that both parent and child can take things at their own pace.
If a parent comes down with an illness, then much of their focus is going to be on recovery. They may not be physically or mentally able to have unsupervised visits, but they are still entitled to see their child. Supervised visitation can be utilized as a means of maintaining the parent-child bond whilst the parent recuperates and regains their strength.
The main focus of all custody decisions is the best interests of the child. If you have questions about your rights as a parent, contact our Lafayette child custody lawyers today it will benefit you to seek some legal guidance.
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]]>The post What is highway hypnosis (and how do you prevent it)? appeared first on .
]]>Just be careful that you don’t let highway hypnosis take over. Highway hypnosis is the term that’s used when drivers end up sort of operating on “automatic” instead of being actively engaged in the process. That both puts the driver who has zoned out in danger and increases the chances of a wreck with another vehicle.
Some of these may appear basic, but they definitely deserve repeating – especially during a stressful holiday season. Try these tips to keep highway hypnosis at bay:
If you ever found yourself ending a journey without being able to clearly recall the trip, you may have experienced this yourself a time or two – and that may certainly make you sympathetic to another driver whose mind wandered while they were on a long trip. When you’re injured, however, you have to take the appropriate steps to protect your legal right to fair compensation for your losses.
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