Parenting plans with morality clauses often place limitations on the kinds of experiences or activities the child can be exposed to. To put it simply, a morality clause prevents a parent from letting anyone who they are involved with romantically or are dating, to spend the night with them. The clause's intentions and goals are admirable and well-intentioned however, both parents must follow this clause. It is intended to safeguard the children's routine, and stability. No one can deny that the goal of this clause is virtuous and protective of the child. The real questions, though, in the world we live in are: does it work, and is it worthwhile?
Adding the morality clause to your parenting plan can work if
both parents are responsible, grown-ups, and believe that upholding the law is
crucial. A parent may momentarily refrain from acting in a way that they
intuitively know is bad for their children out of fear of being found in
contempt of court (yes, you can go to jail for a violation) for allowing the
high school sweetheart who they reunited with online and are now trying to
rekindle their passion stay overnight when their child is there. Even when the parents’
emotions tell them otherwise, they will follow the rules. The anxiety and
psychologically damaging effects of having to cope with both the loss of their
family and the entry of a new adult figure into their lives are spared on the
children. The kids will be better off in the long run if they are shielded from
this circumstance even if only in place during the custody battle. A Morality
Clause is beneficial if all it achieves is to make parents feel morally
compelled to put their children before themselves and force them to grudgingly
follow its rules.
On the other hand, if a parent sees the Morality Clause as
nothing more than an intrusion into their adult and private lives, then what
will happen is that they will deliberately and consciously take steps to
"get around" the clause or ensure they don't get caught. The other
parent will devise a variety of ways to get around the clause if they don't
agree with its intended purpose. The morality clause is intended to prevent a
child who wakes up on a Saturday morning to watch cartoons from being met by a
stranger in the kitchen sipping coffee while still wearing pajamas. The
morality clause does not forbid the new partner from spending time with the
children. As a result, "overnight" is defined by a time limit in most
of the clauses.
Keep in mind, although this is a clause that is helpful to the child and set for your ex to follow, you also have to follow the morality clause. This clause is good for adults who are single and have children together or for divorcing parents.
This article is for informational use only and should be used as a guideline to aide in your research.
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