In life, couples or marriages unfortunately don’t always work out, even when you want them to. You’ll try your best to stay together because of the bond you once had, but ultimately, it doesn’t work and you have to split and go through a divorce. This is a contributed post.
Credit: Alex Green
Divorces can happen due to numerous reasons and it doesn’t always have to be something major. It can be mutual and that you have grown apart due to age or new interests. Or it can be something negative and a partner has had an affair – you may need to go through a divorce laws adultery service for support if this is happening to you. Sometimes finances can play a role in a break-up as well.
Either way, if you are a family and have children, a divorce can be hard for them. You must be there for them to help them get through this difficult time, as inevitably seeing your parents split isn’t going to be easy. To help with supporting your children, we have put together our guide on supporting your children through a divorce.
Never put your children in the middle
To start with, never put your children in the middle of your break-up, doing this can be very damaging and make it more difficult for them to process their parents having a divorce. If you are having a hard day or not getting along with the person you are splitting with, don’t do it in front of the children. Try to have the difficult conversations in a separate space and don’t use the children to pass messages on.
Listen to what your children have to say and be honest with them
Make a safe space where your children can openly communicate with you how they are feeling. Let them ask difficult questions and answer them openly and honestly. Communication is key as this can help them process whats happening, instead of them bottling up their emotions. If you can, encourage them to speak to you and your ex-partner as this way they will get a balanced opinion.
When you have broken up, still work as a team
Once the break-up has happened, try to work as a team. It can be difficult to do this, but by being a team, it can be easier for your children to be happy around you both. It will bring back a certain level of normality and help your children process everything that is going on. If you are negative around each other, this can easily be picked up by children and can then cause conflict.
What advice would you give to someone trying to support their children when going through a divorce? Which of the tips above did you find most useful and will share with others? Is there anything you think we should be adding to our guide to help someone who has children and is going through a divorce? Let us know in the comment box below, we would love to hear from you.