Helping Your Children through Divorce
If you are going through a divorce, your children’s well-being is naturally your primary concern. Divorce is hard on everyone, and it is often hardest for the children involved. When it comes to your children, be proactive and make sure that you are attuned to their needs and feelings throughout the divorce process – and beyond. Divorce is hard on children, but there are things that you can do to help lighten their burden.
Assess What Is Best for Your Children
As a parent, you naturally put your children’s needs first, but divorce is such a difficult and disorienting process that you may not know how best to proceed. Taking care of yourself throughout the divorce process can help give you the clarity to know what is best for your children. For example, no matter how low their other parent’s antics might go, it does not help anyone to share this information with your children. Even if your spouse is withholding interim child support (or engaging in other malicious behavior), allow your experienced Central Texas family law attorney to deal with the issue legally while you attempt to assuage your children’s anxiety about the upheaval they are experiencing.
Be There for Your Children
No matter what your interim child custody arrangements are, make sure that you are always there for your children – always show up and always arrive on time. Your children’s fears and anxieties will almost certainly be heightened throughout the divorce process and knowing that they can always count on you will go a long way toward alleviating those fears and anxieties. (Having a hard time agreeing on child custody arrangements? Click here to read about coming to an agreement)
Talk to Your Children About Their Fears
If you are going through a divorce, ignoring the issue is not going to help you or your children. Talk to your children about the divorce. Explain – in an age-appropriate way – that, while things are changing and that, while you and their other parent will no longer be living together, you both love them as much as you ever did, and you are going to ensure that they remain happy and healthy in their new living situation. Children tend to internalize things that they do not understand, and they may blame themselves for the problems you are experiencing in your marriage. Help them see that this is far from the truth. Remember, too, that a professional counselor can help. (Related: Helping Your Children Overcome Divorce: Breaking the News)
Keep Things Running as Smoothly as Possible
Divorce is almost certain to change your children’s living situation. No matter what these changes are, however, try to keep things running as smoothly as possible. Shuttling their lives and belongings between two different homes can be embarrassing and exhausting for children. To the extent possible, try to equip both households with the things your children need in their daily lives. Keeping your children’s lives running smoothly will help make the transition easier for them. (Read about divorce and your children's school activities)
If You Are Facing Divorce, an Experienced Central Texas Family Law Attorney Can Help
If you are considering divorce, your children are naturally your number one concern. Attorney Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard in Central Texas understands your concerns and is here to help. For more information, please contact or call us at (254) 220-4225 today.
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