There is no question that going through a divorce can be both painful and anxiety provoking as you will more than likely find yourself having to adjust to new living arrangements, increased support obligations and, most significantly, less time with your children.
However, it’s important to remember that no matter how sad or anxious you may be feeling that there is a very good chance that your children are experiencing the exact same emotions.
Fortunately, family experts indicate that there are some simple steps that you can take to help your children cope during this difficult time and adjust to their new familial environment.
Be open and honest with your children: Experts indicate that parents should make every effort to not only provide the necessary level of reassurance and comfort, but also to cultivate a safe environment in which their children can feel free to discuss their feelings at any time.
Create a stable environment: Experts point out that it’s extremely important for parents to provide their children with as much stability as possible during this tumultuous time. This means everything from making sure they stick to their routines to allowing them to make decisions about food, clothing or movies.
Avoid negative behavior: Above all else, experts urge parents to resist the urge to engage in any sort of conduct that can prove detrimental to the emotional wellbeing of children, causing them to feel anxiety, guilt, sadness or anger. Such conduct may include openly fighting with your former spouse either in person or over the telephone, or speaking poorly about your former spouse when he or she is not around.
Please visit our website if you would like to learn more about child custody, visitation or other divorce-related issues.
The following post was provided for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.
Source: The Huffington Post, “How to help your children cope with divorce?” Michelle Rozen, June 6, 2013
