Common Myths About Divorce

With divorce now an accepted reality in today’s society, it is not surprising that there is much misinformation available on the topic. Well-meaning friends and family often pass on these pieces of advice to those facing a potential divorce without realizing their error. Below are a few common divorce myths and the truth about their origin:

• Myth: Having a child with your spouse will greatly reduce the chance of divorce.
• Reality: While studies have shown that couples with at least one child are slightly less at risk for a divorce, the disparity is much less than it used to be. The idea of “staying together for the kids” is simply less prominent in today’s cultural mindset than in the past. Having a child should never be considered a remedy to a rocky relationship. In fact, the period after the first child is born is often reported to be the most stressful time during a marriage. There is no quick and easy fix to the issues at the heart of a troubled relationship, and having a child only increases the number of people who might be negatively affected by marital problems.
• Myth: After a divorce, children are better off in stepfamilies than with a single parent.
• Reality: It is a popular and understandable misconception that having two adults in the household is inherently better than one when it comes to rearing children. However, stepfamilies come with their own set of problems, often due to incompatibility in non-biological child-parent relationships. Stepfamilies are unfortunately very prone to break-ups for these sorts of reasons.
• Myth: Divorces are usually initiated by men.
• Reality: As a matter of fact, two-thirds of divorce proceedings are actually undertaken by women. This is due to a number of factors, such as the presumption in most states that women will retain custody of their children, or the higher probability that the male has been guilty of irresponsible behaviors like substance abuse or infidelity.

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If you or someone you know is facing a divorce, it is important to speak with a qualified legal representative. Contact the Austin divorce attorneys of Slater, Kennon & Pugh Ltd.LLP at 512-472-2431 to learn more.