Society’s Changing

by Alisa Peskin-Shepherd | Jul 25, 2016 | Off Topic

Now that same-sex marriage is legal, we’re seeing lots of changes in recognition of family structure and rights for many different kinds of couples. That’s wonderful, as it legitimates families that already were loving and cohesive.

It also adds complication due to the legal status of families. I thought about this when I read about a recent news item, where a lesbian couple, who had been together for 12 years, and raised their children together, were splitting up.

Since they got together before gay marriage was legal, the women were not legally married. And, one was the biological mother of the children. However, the other mom had legal guardianship over the children who know both of them as “Mom.”

As the couple split, the biological mother tried to terminate the other mother’s guardianship status. I can only imagine how devastating that must be for the children!

Not only is their entire world turning upside down – now the two people they love the most, who have been their rocks in life, are trying to push each other out from relationships with the children.

Unfortunately, the mom with guardianship status doesn’t have many rights under the law, even though the kids call her Mom.

In my humble opinion, I don’t think the biological mother is thinking about what’s best for the children.

Our society is changing in ways that I believe are better for families. We in the legal realm now just have to catch up.