Thursday, February 28, 2013

Divorce Prices

I found this website online called Divorce Service. This  is a web site for a company in New Jersey that couples can get a divorce the cheapest way possible. The logo of the website is "Fast, Easy & Affordable". On the web site site it talks about how easy they make it to get a divorce by listing how easy it can be! Some things on the list include;  no hidden fees, spouse signitaure not required, final in just 4-8 weeks.  It also has the price it costs to get a divorce and how much a couple is saving if they go to an attorney. The goal of the company is to make divorce easy, cheap and fast, so it doesn't cause worry or stress to a couple.
Today, just looking in the new paper or in windows of town, one can find an advertisements for cheap divorces. It's almost like they are selling them as a product. Back in the day people would never see signs about getting a divorce because it meant failure and they would be looked down upon . Over the years the meaning of marriage has change. Today divorce is more common and is not looked down upon by society. Since the meanings have changed society and business have changed. They make it very easy and cheap to get a divorce. This can be good but the can be bad. Because its so easy, people getting married know how easy and cheap it is, so if it doesn't work out, it can be fix easily. Also it is so fact. Couples may rush into a divorce but then regret it because they didn't take the time to think and work it out. I think these reasons have contributed to the meaning of marriage changing. 

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Kramer Vs. Kramer

The movie "Kramer vs. Kramer" tells the story of a married couple divorce and the effects it has on their young son. The father, Ted, is a workaholic, so when his wife, Joanna, leaves him with their son to take care of, Ted is having trouble balancing work and his young son.  Later in the movie Joanna comes back fighting for custody of the child. The court gives her custody because they feel that a child is best raised by a mother. Later in the day, when Joanna comes to pick up Billy, she has a change in heart and realized  how much Ted loves Billy and decides Billy can stay with Ted. 
I think that this movie shows stereotypes of divorce very well. It shows that people think that the child should be raised by the mother because the father doesn't always know best. When parents get divorce usually the child stays with the mom during the week. I think this movie shows that a father can raise a child. In the movie Joanna leaves for 15 months to "find herself" and then comes back because she wants her son. Ted had to struggle work and Billy. I think its good that Ted got his son in the end, because he was there for his son, when his mom wasn't. It shows that a father can raise a kid and mother doesn't always know whats best for their child. I think that its good that Joanna realized that what she wants isn't always best for her son. I think that this movie also shows that its never to late to be a good parent. In the beginning Ted and Billy didn't communicate well because Ted was always working and Billy was mad. This shows that its never to later even if parents are divorce for a parent to become a good parent. 

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Joint Custody, From a Distance

I read an article in The New York Times, called  "Kramer.com vs. Kramer.com" that discusses how technology is playing  a bigger role with divorced parents, that now have joint custody. When people break up with their boyfriend they usually don't have to see them again, but with divorced couples who share kids that not true. Usually divorced parents will fight in front of their kids about custody, saving money, and how to raise their kids. Some people find the voice of their ex wife/husband irritating or annoying and don't want to hear the sound of their voice. By texting or emailing  this limits the fighting. One parent said that everything, schedules, drop-offs, pickups, are all done my email and it avoids arguing in front of the kids. By not hearing a voice on the phone or face to face it is easier and less stressful. Also by the use of face time it allows the child to talk and see the other parent when they might be staying at the others, house. This way they can still communicate and see each other more than one time a week. If your worried that by communicating by text, the co parent may not response to you, you can set up a family wizard, which tracts the dates, a times, emails and texts are made, to make sure one reposes in a timely manner. 

When I picked this topic i was very intersected in how a divorce can 
effect child. One way that it can effect child is the fighting they may see with their parents, over something that involves them. I feel like the e-mailing and texting helps limit the amount fighting that goes on, especially if things ended on a bad not, they don't have to see each other as often. I think that the face timing is really good because it allows kids to see their mom or dad through the week and show them things, instead of just talking on the phone. 
Today technology plays a huge role in our lives and how we communicate. I found it intersecting that now technology has a role with divorce. Now custody calenders are all done online, so parents don't have to argue. I think that his is good for the child, but i think its important for the parents to be able to communicate with each other face to face civilly. In the future, their are going to be weddings, and graduations where they are both going to have to talked to each other with out the cell phone or through e mail.