The two of you need to figure out how to live together, peacefully,
until the divorce is completed. Following are some suggestions.
Why don't the two of you read these, and agree (out loud) to
follow them?
Rule 1: Stop the arguments before
they happen. An argument never results in anything
positive. So, don't have them. Establish an agreement
that either one of you can say, "Stop," and both of you
must stop, immediately. Or, you can say, "Stop.
We'll discuss it with our mediator." If you feel yourself
heating up during a discussion, recognize it, and just say "Stop.
I'm ready to blow. So, let's discuss this later."
An argument is a waste of time, and it can only do additional harm.
If you are using the services of a therapist, you may need to step
up your visits to help you manage your fears and anger. Study
anger management techniques, like deep breathing, exercise, yoga,
meditation, music, ... You can't bottle up the anger, but
you don't need to direct it toward your spouse.
Rule 2: Don't threaten, and don't play games.
You aren't going to carry through with your threats. In the
end, the two of you will agree on a fair arrangement, so all of
the threats and games will have been a waste. Game playing
just leads to additional games and threats from the other player.
When the two of you finally get past the threats and games, you'll
be right back where you were before the threats were made.
In the meantime, you will have wasted a lot of time, spent a lot
of money, increased the tension, and hindered the process.
So, don't do it!
Rule 3: Don't panic. The
process takes a lot of time. When your partner starts to play
some game or makes a "legalistic" threat, don't join in,
don't make a counter-threat. Keep in mind that, in the end,
the two of you will come to a fair agreement. No final agreements
are going to be made today or tomorrow. You don't have to
react immediately to every move. You can take a few days to
respond. The threats are made out of anger, and the game playing
is done out of fear. Think about why your spouse is taking
these actions, and help mollify him/her. There are two
exceptions: (1) If your spouse is going to physically hurt you
or hurt him/herself, you need to take immediate action. (2)
If your spouse is hiding assets or wasting/spending them at an unusual
rate, you need to contact your attorney.
Rule 4: Use your support network.
There are people around you who are willing to help you, with the
emotional, with the logistical. Don't be afraid to use them.
They have made themselves available to you: friends, family,
therapist, mediator, attorney, clergy.
Rule 5: Make your own space. Don't
sleep together. Each of you needs a room in the house that
is just yours. The other person is never allowed to
enter your room without your permission. This has two advantages:
(1) It provides you with a place where you can feel safe, and separate.
(2) Each of you starts to learn how to be single, before the divorce
is finalized.
Rule 6: Allow the other person his/her right
to privacy. Don't ask where he/she went, what he/she was
doing. During the divorce process, each of you will embark
on your journey into the single life. Gain your independence.
Don't rely on your spouse. And, don't nose into your spouse's
new private life.
Rule 7: Agree on spending limits.
During the divorce process, the two of you will be determining how
to divide each of your assets. This includes your checking
and savings accounts - and your credit card bills. So, don't
go spending and buying, until both of you have divided the accounts
and made some rules. Do not move any monies among accounts,
unless both of you agree. Keep your spending to a minimum.
No expensive gifts. No trips. Minimal entertainment.
Unless both of you agree.
Rule 8: Earn the trust of your partner.
In order to negotiate the terms of your divorce, you will need to
trust the honesty of your partner. And, your partner will
need to trust you. Each of you needs to ensure that you are
doing the right things so that your partner can trust you.
Before buying anything expensive, discuss it with your partner.
Don't hoard assets. Don't appear to be secretive. Provide
documentation to support any issue that your partner questions.
Don't flip-flop on issues: Yes, you can change your mind, but changing
it several times on one issue leads to distrust. Be able to
back up your proposals with thought-out reasons: Reasons don't have
to be logical, they can be emotional, but they have to be explained.>
Rule 9: Don't use the kids as a tool against
one another. Don't use the kids for passing messages back
and forth. Don't say anything negative about your spouse to
the kids. If you really want to do what's in the best interest
of the kids, act that way. Negative actions will either damage
the relationship between your child and the other parent, or it
will backfire and damage the relationship with you. And, certainly,
it will worsen the relationship between you and your soon-to-be
ex-spouse. You really don't want any of these things to happen.
But, if you are intent on hurting your spouse, don't do it through
the kids.
Rule 10: Prepare for your new life.
Open a checking account in your own name, with a minimal deposit
($100?). Get a credit card in your own name, but don't use
it, yet. Rewrite your will, but don't sign it until you are
divorced.