Divorce is never easy, but it can be especially difficult for children. They often feel caught in the middle and don’t know who to turn to. You must focus on your kids and make them your number one priority during this time. Here are a few tips to help you do just that.
If you can, stay out of court
Going to court is often very stressful for kids and can cause them to feel even more torn between their parents. If you can, try to work out a settlement outside of court.
This will be less traumatic for your children. You can try mediation, a process where a neutral third party helps you work out a settlement. Other out-of-court options include collaborative divorce and arbitration.
If you have to go to court, try to keep the hearings as few and short as possible and make sure that your kids aren’t in the courtroom.
Keep communication open
It’s important that you keep the lines of communication open with your children during and after divorce. This will help them feel like they can come to you with anything they’re feeling or thinking. Talk to them about what’s going on and answer any questions they have honestly and openly.
Make sure that you also listen to your kids. They may not want to talk about the divorce, but they’ll still need a listening ear.
Avoid criticizing or badmouthing the other parent
It’s very important that you don’t badmouth the other parent in front of your kids. Doing so can make them feel like they have to choose sides and they’ll likely blame themselves for the divorce. Plus, it’s just not fair to them.
The best thing you can do is to be respectful of the other parent in front of your kids. If there are things you don’t like about the way they’re parenting, talk to them about it in a constructive way.
Kids need their parents to get along during and after divorce. By following these tips, you’ll be able to focus on your kids and make sure they come through the divorce process unscathed.
