Easing your kids through the difficulties of divorce

Even the most amicable of divorces have the potential to bring difficulties and complications for every member of the family. As a parent, one of your primary goals is likely to protect your children as much as possible, shielding them from unnecessary duress and strain during this time of change. It can be difficult to navigate the personal feelings you will experience during your divorce while trying to protect your kids, but focusing on what will ultimately be best for them long-term can be helpful.

New Jersey parents can take simple steps that will allow them to keep the focus on their kids and prioritize their needs at every step of the divorce process. By being intentional, making the effort to provide support, and care during this time, you may make the divorce a bit easier to navigate for the entire family. It is helpful to remember that the decision to divorce will impact every person in the family in different ways.

Helpful steps and suggestions

Prioritizing the needs and well-being of the kids may require you to set aside your own feelings during this time. Every family is different, and your kids may require support and help in ways that are unique to them, depending on their ages and maturity levels. However, the following are helpful steps for parents regardless of the ages of their kids:

• Allow the kids the opportunity to express their feelings, even if those feelings are negative, without fear of getting in trouble or causing difficulty for the parents.
• Assure your children that their feelings are valid and important, and do not tell them they are wrong for feeling a certain way.
• Try your best to keep the adult arguments away from your children, and do not put them in the middle of disagreements.
• Seek professional mental health assistance for your children and for yourself during this difficult time.

These are just a few of the ways you can protect the mental and emotional health of your children during a divorce. As you navigate the decisions that will impact your final order, keep the focus on the kids — and what will ultimately be in their interests both now and for years to come. By doing this, you can ease the transition into their post-divorce life and make it simpler to adjust to the many changes they will experience.