Divorce is an extremely difficult time for families, and as a parent, it is essential to always keep at the forefront of your mind that other people in your family are significantly impacted- especially your children. Although it is impossible to completely control how your divorce affects your children, there are certain steps you can take to help make the process smoother and the adjustment process less difficult. Part of the reason you’ve decided to file for divorce is for the good of the family as a whole down the road. Here are some recommendations from family law experts Swickle & Associates for how to ease the process for the children during a divorce.
How To Make Things Easier On Your Kids Through A Divorce
Divorces are often messy and often instigate negative feelings or events, especially if it becomes contentious. While it’s impossible to completely insulate your children, here are some things that can help keep the process as healthy as possible for your children.
- Keep them informed, early and often: While many parents may instinctively want to shield their children from the news and hold off talking about it as long as they can, this will only make it more difficult when they do eventually find out. It’s essential to have an honest and open conversation with them regarding what’s going on, and answer their questions as truthfully as you’re able to, because otherwise they’ll feel even more lost and confused.
- Don’t speak negatively around the kids: Your children are not pawns in your divorce and should not be made to feel like they have to choose a side. If you’re in communication with your ex-spouse, try your best to be as respectful as possible without involving your children in your conflicts.
- Keep routines going: It’s key to offer some stability for your children during such a chaotic time through maintaining as much of their normal routine as possible so they don’t think everything is flipped upside down. Keep them enrolled in the same school and continue their involvement in the same extracurricular activities if possible.
- If necessary, ask for help: Don’t hesitate to seek professional counseling or help if you’re struggling to cope with the divorce on your own. Professional help or support from family not only benefits you during this difficult period but also your children, and your children may also require outside help.
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Few people expect divorce to be easy, but many people may not anticipate the numerous emotional and logistical difficulties that arise, particularly when there are young children involved. However, there are certain things you can do to maintain a healthy relationship with your children. By putting your children’s best interests first and following the tips we delineated above, you can help ease the process and help your children transition. If you’re considering the process of filing for divorce, you’ll need an experienced family law attorney on your side. Swickle & Associates is a top family law firm in Fort Lauderdale that has handled many successful divorces. Call Swickle & Associates to schedule a consultation with a top Florida divorce attorney today.