Divorce can be a stressful endeavor, leaving you wracked with uncertainty and fear of what the future holds. Any conflict with your spouse can also leave you feeling marginalized, personally attacked and defeated. You certainly need to take care you of yourself throughout your marriage dissolution so that you can minimize the impact these feelings and emotions have on your overall well-being, but you also need to be cognizant of how the process may affect your children.
While children are incredibly resilient, they’re also fragile, particularly amid a divorce. For many children who experience their parents’ divorce, their sense of stability is upended as the life that they’ve known and grown accustomed to is obliterated. These children need an extensive amount of support. If they don’t receive it, then they can experience a host of issues, including the onset of low self-esteem, behavioral and school problems and development of anxiety and depression. Fortunately, you might be able to prevent these poor outcomes from falling on your children.
How to protect your children during the divorce process
There are a lot of ways you can protect your children during the divorce process. You just have to be proactive, as shielding your children may not come naturally when you’re wrapped up on the intricacies and conflict involved in your case. That said, here are some steps to take to protect your children’s well-being during your divorce:
- Don’t allow your children to get caught in the middle of your divorce: There are several ways in which your children can get caught up in the middle of your marriage dissolution. It can be tempting to make disparaging statements about the other parent while your children are present, and you might think that you can get back at your spouse by withholding your children from them. But you should resist these urges, as they can prove extremely detrimental to your children. They can also negatively impact your relationship with your children and the relationship that they have with their other parent. In most instances, your children will be better off having a good relationship with each parent, so that’s what you should strive for so long as it’s safe to do so.
- Help your children find stability: Divorce can feel chaotic for children. By finding some semblance of stability, you can help your children ground themselves so that they know what to expect day-in and day-out, at least to certain extent. This can significantly reduce their stress and anxiety.
- Talk to your kids: Your children are going to experience a wide array of emotions during the divorce process. By talking to them, you give them an outlet for their concerns and their emotions. During your conversations with them, you can provide reassurance, remind them that both parents love them and ensure them that things will settle down into a new normal.
Advocate to protect your children’s best interests during the divorce process
We know you have a lot to navigate as you work your way through the marriage dissolution process, but keeping your children’s best interests at the forefront should be one of your top priorities. While this requires proactiveness to protect their emotional and psychological well-being, it also necessitates advocating for a child custody and child support order that’s right for them. So, as you navigate your divorce, be sure to consider what evidence you can use to advocate for an outcome that most effectively protects your children’s best interests.