A child of divorce writes on how to help your child during divorce. What better source? Thanks to Melissa Farrell a freelance writer who lives in Kansas for her insights.
Speaking as a child of divorce, every situation is different. My parents were high school sweethearts and were together for over 10 years before they decided to call it quits. And when they finally divorced, they tried their best to make sure it didn’t affect me negatively. I was too young to really remember anything, at four years old, but I do remember they were always nice to one another around me.
So how can you help your child adjust to divorce?
Explain the Situation
If at all possible, both of you should sit down and explain in the simplest, most straightforward way why you decided to get divorced. Explain that it is in no way the child’s fault, but that you don’t work together any more. A possible conversation could be “Mommy and daddy fight all the time, which isn’t good for anyone. We’ve decided to live in different houses and not be married any more.” Calmly answer any and all questions your child might have and reiterate the fact that it was not his or her fault and you both still love your child.
Throw Around the Idea of Therapy
Sometimes children feel more comfortable expressing their feelings to a third party, someone who will listen to them and not judge. Find someone who can help them express their feelings and work through their struggles. It may be your pastor, a family coach or someone else who is trained to work with children of divorce.
Don’t Let Your Child Be the ‘Middle Man’
Although parents know it’s not healthy to put the child in the middle, sometimes they just can’t seem to help themselves — they roll their eyes or sigh when they talk about their ex, they make negative remarks about the other person in the kids’ presence, they ask the children to relay messages to the other parent. DON’T be like those people.
Allow Substantial Time At Both Houses
As a kid, I lived with my mom during the school year and visited my dad once a week and stayed with him every other weekend. During the summer months, I lived with my dad and saw my mom once a week and every other weekend. Every situation is different, but making sure you allow equal time between the both of you is important. Split school breaks and holidays. If it’s not your weekend but there’s a fun event going on you think your child would love, talk it over and switch weekends. Communication is key.
Avoid Fighting
Children remember when parents fight, argue and yell at one another and it mentally effects them. Although seeing parents fight helps the child understand why the parents can’t stay together any more, it is hard on them when they’re surrounded by it all day long.
Thanks to them I have a healthy outlook on relationships and marriage and I never saw divorce as this horrible monster. But there are many out there who have the opposite feeling, especially in children who are old enough to understand the situation. Divorce is not easy on anyone and children often feel anger and resentment towards their parents unless you commit to helping your child through your divorce like my parents.
Reader Interactions