Sad news has hit Kevin Costner’s family.
He’s splitting from his wife Christine Baumgartner.
And the divorce battle has been bitter.
The pair had been together for almost nineteen years.
And share three children, Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13.
The children have been at the center of the divorce battle.
As child support is the major issue being argued in court.
However, a ruling came on Friday.
And the judge has slashed Costner’s child support payments.
So much so that his wife has confirmed she must return to work.
And now, Baumgartner has made another demand.
Now, there’s nothing quite as rewarding as parenthood.
The love between you and your child is something unlike any other feeling on earth… It’s a pretty magical thing.
Although you try and do the best for your child…
Everyone has an opinion on what you’re doing wrong.
There are many things that make parenthood irritating…
But there’s one thing pretty much every parent out there can relate to, which is feeling like you’re not giving your kids the best.
And there are a whole host of controversial decisions to be made around parenting.
It’s safe to say, people have some pretty strong opinions…
Like, for example, how to split duties between parents…
With single parenting being even tougher!
And modern parents have even more stresses to go through.
Technology has made the already hard job of parenting even trickier — especially as kids grow older.
There’s another big issue for parents, these days.
The highly topical issue of helicopter parenting.
It can be tricky to toe the line between responsible and overprotective.
But it’s important to foster independence and trust in your kids, to risk a serious rebellion down the line.
It often all comes down to communication.
And making sure your kids feel they can come to you with their problems will always make things easier.
Respect is another pertinent issue when it comes to parenting.
As a lack of respect is really what most fights between parents and kids come down to.
Patience is also key.
As any parent will tell you, you need the patience of a saint on some days.
The feeling of inadequacy can also bring parents down.
But if you’re trying your best, rest assured — you’re being a top-level parent!
Trying to instill discipline is key.
But, let’s be honest — it’s not always possible! Sometimes kids just aren’t in the mood to be obedient.
There’s something else that can make parenting seem scary.
That feeling that there just isn’t enough time!
Not only do days rush past when you’re super busy taking care of a little one…
But you want to treasure the precious, fleeting moments of your child’s early days (and years).
Dealing with fear is another big issue of parenting.
With a world out there that feels vast and frightening, it can be tempting to wrap you child up in cotton wool.
But you need to allow your child to experience life for themselves!
So long as they always know they can rely on you to help them out in times of need!
A lot of good parenting actually relies on relinquishing of control.
Which is, as any parent knows, easier said than done.
But this week, a celebrity parenting story has shaken the internet.
During the bitter divorce of Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner.
During the latest divorce hearing Judge Thomas Anderle slashed Costner’s child support payments to Baumgartner in half, from $129,000 to $63,000.
A source told the Daily Mail: “Christine is shocked. She said even Kevin looked shocked. Everyone looked shocked.”
“To say Christine is disappointed is an understatement. She described the ruling is a complete joke.”
“Christine said they painted the picture of this shallow, greedy gold-digger and that if Kevin could get past his anger and revenge, he would see how this is hurting their kids.”
Following the decision, Baumgartner has revealed she plans to get a job.
“I will look into the steps I need to take and any schooling I need to do, and I will enter the workforce,” she told People.
And now, Cosner has denied another of Baumgartner’s claims.
She’s requested he pay her $885,000 in attorney’s fees.
Something his lawyer, Laura Wasser, has called “nothing short of outrageous.”
What do you think of the legal battle?