Choosing to get a divorce from your spouse is a big deal. What can make this decision even more meaningful is if the two of you have children together.
While filing for divorce might be the best option for you, it can often bring hard times for your children, despite your best efforts to keep them above the fray. So to help you be prepared for what might come as you proceed with your divorce, here are three things to consider regarding your children when filing for divorce.
Know The Answers To Their Most Likely Questions
When the time comes for you to break the news about your divorce to your children, they’re likely going to have a lot of questions. While some of these questions might have to do with you and your spouse, the majority of their questions will likely center around how this new change will impact their lives personally.
To be able to adequately answer these questions, you’re going to want to anticipate some of the likely questions and come up with reasonable answers for them. For example, Jennifer Wolf, a contributor to Very Well Family, will likely want to know where they’ll be living, what school they’ll be going to, if they’ll have to move, and more. So by thinking about all these things before speaking with your children, you’ll be able to give them the answers they need and feel more prepared yourself.
How You’ll Maintain Consistency And Stability
Having parents who are going through a divorce can be a big upheaval in your children’s lives. And because kids do best with they have consistency and stability, it should now be your top priority to find ways to bring these things back around.
To help you with this, HelpGuide.org recommends that you try to keep their schedules and routines as consistent as you can during this time. Additionally, if you’re going to be sharing custody, you should try to parent in a similar way so that things in each home will bring a sense of familiarity to your children.
Prepare To Watch Their Behaviors Along With Their Words
There are likely going to be many situations and emotions surrounding your divorce that your children won’t really be able to understand. Because of this, they might tell you that they’re fine and things are going well when that really isn’t the case.
If you’re aware of this possibility, Nicole Feuer, a contributor to Today.com, shares that you’ll be prepared to watch their behaviors as well as their words. If your child becomes clingy, acts out, shows signs of depression, or regresses in other ways, you should take these things as a sign that your child is struggling and needs more support during this time.
If you plan to begin divorce proceedings soon, consider using the information presented above to help you know how to best help your children through this difficult time.
