Conversation best for parents when making vaccine decision
COVID-19 has been a tough time for everyone, including families, as they try to navigate what's best for them and their loved ones.
Vaccines were just made available to kids between the ages of five and 11 this week and while it will likely be an easy decision for some, others may find themselves facing a debate.
"Across the pandemic, all families have been impacted by these changes and new grounds that they're trying to cover and I think it's posed some particular challenges to co-parenting," said family lawyer Jessica Pugliese. "The biggest emphasis from my perspective has been on improving communication and conflict resolution."
Pugliese says the best course between parents is to always try and figure this out between themselves and not in the courtroom.
"It's really looking at what's in a child's best interest and that's what a court is going to do as well," she said.
"Every child and every family is different so the needs of different children and the needs of different families aren't cookie-cutter and they're never going to be precisely the same so it's always a good approach in either a co-parenting or regular parenting situation to have an open and Frank conversation with the other parent about what their perspective is and why," said Pugliese.
She says if you can come to a consensus between the two of you before seeking legal advice, it saves people a lot of time, effort and money.
"And again with the caveat that every child might have different circumstances, a judge is always going to look at what's in the best interest of the child and we do have an absolute tendency to defer to what the evidence is before them and if that evidence is that Public Health is advising and supporting public health measures and vaccines, that's certainly going to be very compelling," she said.
"You know I think it's really important to recognize, on both sides of the issue, vaccinating kids or not vaccinating them, you have a parent who loves their child so it's really important for parents to keep that in mind," said Alan McQuarrie, executive director of the Community Counselling Centre of Nipissing.
McQuarre says parents may be categorically opposed to their partner or former partner's decision but by recognizing that you have something in common and that you care about your child, that's key to keep in mind.
He tells CTVNews, COVID has been a stressful time for families and they're certainly seeing it walk through their front doors.
"It's so easy to get caught up in all kinds of ineffective arguments and debates and I really think it's important that people recognize the vaccine decision is often an emotional decision. It's not something that people reason about, often it's something they feel in their gut so having debates around the facts, sometimes it doesn't go a long way," he said.
McQuarrie says their phone has been ringing off the hook. Often times it's people struggling to deal with depression, loneliness and anxiety. It's also having a spill-over effect for things like domestic violence and addiction.
The toll from the pandemic is carrying over into the Christmas season so people need to focus on things like family.
"To let an argument over vaccines interrupt that healthy coming together, it's really important that people don't let that happen," he said.
The Counselling Community Centre of Nipissing offers a walk-in clinic for anyone in need of help dealing with the pandemic, feeling stuck or anxious. You can find more information here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
BREAKING Police cordon off Iran consulate in Paris where man threatens to blow himself up: French media
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris on Friday, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Europe 1 radio and BFM TV.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.