Divorcing parents need to consider their children’s feelings
If you are a parent who is going through a divorce, you are likely dealing with many concerns and emotional issues; but so too are your children. Remember, your children likely see you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse as their parents, not as two individuals with strong differences. It can be very traumatic to watch the two of you go your separate ways.
Therefore, it is very important to take your children’s feelings into account as you proceed through the divorce process. To this end, here are a few suggestions that may help your children contend with the big changes in their lives.
- Make sure that you and your spouse each remain an integral part of your children’s lives.
- Do not have arguments or legal discussions in front of your children.
- Do not speak negatively or assign blame to your spouse in the presence of your children.
- Keep any disruptions to your children’s lives to a minimum.
While you may believe with all your heart that a divorce is the best solution to your marital issues, your children may not understand. Your children love both you and your spouse and it can be very damaging for them to be placed in the middle of your conflicts. A parent should not try to alienate a child from his or her other parent.
In the case of a contentious divorce, it is all too easy to lose track of what is most important. Therefore, if you are involved in a divorce that has grown particularly rancorous, you may wish to get some support from an outside source.
A family law attorney may be able to help you get the situation under control. An attorney who has experience dealing with parental alienation issues could offer advice on how to best work with your spouse. The attorney could also represent your interests regarding your parenting agreement and custody arrangements.