How To Help Your Child Through Divorce

 Welcome back to the Velvet Runway and this feature about How To Help Your Child Through Divorce.

Going through a divorce is hard on the whole family, and while you might be losing the person you deemed to be your life partner and once thought would spend the rest of your life with, your child will be losing their whole foundation for stability and the only family unit they have had and known their entire lives thus far.

Underestimating the impact a divorce can have on children will only serve to ensure that they don’t get the help and support they need during this time.

These tips can help you help your child navigate this time with you so they feel loved and supported as their entire life changes.

How To Help Your Child Through Divorce

1: Get Legal Advice

When going through a divorce, seeking legal advice to dissolve the marriage is crucial. This step is not just for contentious splits but also for amicable ones. Consulting a family lawyer can help you grasp the legal aspects of single parenthood, understand the non-resident’s visitation rights, and guide you on the necessary steps for the future.

The more you know, the better prepared you can be. Seeking expert advice, not just listening to the people around you, can give you reassurance and confidence. It can alert you to any legal implications you must be aware of to ensure that things run smoothly post-divorce.

2: Listen

Your child is going to be feeling bad in the event of a divorce. They’ll have some pretty big feelings even if they’re not verbally sharing them. As a parent, your role is crucial in understanding these unspoken emotions. Listening to your child isn’t just about taking in the words they say but the things they don’t say or do.

Sometimes, kids don’t always verbalise how they feel; they demonstrate it in their actions, and you must also listen to these cues.

3: Make Time

While it’s a good idea to keep to your normal routines and life to retain any semblance of normalcy in the face of massive upheaval, it is important to make time for your child to offer them additional support. The absence of one parent from the home might present an empty chasm they’re struggling to navigate, or they might need you there to support them so they feel loved and not abandoned.

You know your child well and will be able to determine what they need from how they act, so make sure you give them time, clear things from your schedule, and be there even if they act like they don’t want you there.

4. Avoid Negativity

If things have ended badly, avoiding using your child as a sounding board to criticise the non-resident parent and blame them for everything is crucial. Your child will absorb this, which can result in a few different conclusions. It can turn them against other parents whether you mean to do this or not. You can turn them against you as they decide that they actually don’t want to deal with your negativity, or you can breed negativity and show them that hate and negativity are the way forward, thus fundamentally changing their personality and outlook on life.

This is something to avoid, and if it means keeping your own feelings locked up until you have a more suitable audience for your child who is out of earshot, then so be it.

5. Encourage Self-Care and Wellness

Divorce can take a toll on both the physical and mental health of all the family, so encourage your child to prioritize self-care and wellness. Encourage them to engage in activities that bring them joy and relaxation, whether it’s exercise, meditation, spending time in nature, or pursuing hobbies. Offer to accompany them on walks or outings to provide companionship and encouragement and give them a chance to express their feelings.

Final Thoughts on How To Help Your Child Through Divorce

While helping your child through divorce isn’t easy, these tips will ensure that you can offer support at this difficult time.

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