Helping Your Children Through the Stresses of Divorce

 Posted on February 26, 2021 in Divorce

Divorce is a difficult topic for everyone to stomach. For adults, divorce can be unpleasant to talk about and distressing for the couple who is actually going through the divorce. When you add children into the picture, it can become a much more delicate situation to handle. For children, being in the middle of their parents going through a divorce can be scary and unnerving. Many parents worry about how their kids will cope with their divorce, but children tend to be more resilient than we give them credit for. Studies have shown that children tend to grow up to lead happy and healthy lives as long as their parents did not subject them to regular conflict. There are many things that you can do as a parent to help your children through this difficult time in both of your lives. 

Tips for Easing the Transition

Here are a few things you can do to help your child cope with the difficulties that can come with your divorce:

• Break the news in a way they will understand. For many parents, the most difficult part of the entire process is having to tell their children that things are no longer going to be the same. While it can be just as difficult for you as it is for them, you owe it to your children to break the news of the divorce in a truthful, yet simple and age-appropriate way.

• Make it clear they are loved. One of the first things you should do after you break the news of the divorce is let your children know that they are still loved by both you and your spouse very much. Kids can sometimes assume that they are to blame for their parents’ divorce, but you should reassure them that is not the case.

• Encourage and foster communication. The best way to help your children cope with the stress of the divorce is to let them speak freely about what they are feeling. You should try to encourage all of your kids to speak about the emotions that they are feeling, as they may not understand some of them yet. This is a good opportunity for you to help them learn how to cope with feelings such as frustration and sadness.

• Make visitation transitions as stress-free as possible. Another thing that you can do to greatly help your children during your divorce is to make transitions between households as smooth as possible. Go into the transition with the goal of cooperation between you and your spouse. Show your kids that you are happy that they are spending time with their other parent by smiling and letting them know that they do not need to worry about you.

A DuPage County Divorce Attorney Is Here to Help

When you decide to get a divorce, it is not just you and your spouse who are affected. Everyone in the family feels the stress and anxiety that can come from getting a divorce. With help from a skilled Wheaton divorce lawyer, you can be sure to minimize the stress of your divorce as much as possible. At the Law Office of Ronald L. Hendrix, P.C., our attorneys have more than 35 years of combined family legal experience that they will use to help you through your divorce with as little stress as possible. To get started discussing your case with one of our attorneys, call our office today at 630-355-7776 to schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/how-raise-happy-cooperative-child/201302/8-strategies-helping-kids-adjust-divorce

https://www.parents.com/parenting/divorce/coping/11-rules-for-helping-your-child-deal-with-divorce/

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/parenting-family/children-and-divorce.htm