Do not act surprized

Often during a divorce, especially a divorce involving children, a spouse acts "surprised" (notice the choice of word "acts") when their soon-to- be-X spouse refuses to be reasonable, or reacts on an immature level, or does stupid and juvenile things.

Why in the world would you be surprised? If your soon-to- be-X spouse was a reasonable, mature and responsible person, you would not be divorcing them!

So, if you have a dysfunctional marriage, do not expect anything else other then a dysfunctional divorce, and a future dysfunctional relationship as former husband and former wife.

The reason you are divorcing your spouse is because they are unreasonable, or it is because they are immature, or it is because they are irresponsible, and therefore, how can you possibly be "surprised" when they act the same way during and after your divorce.