One of the most difficult parts of your pending divorce may be seeing the effect it is having on your children. Despite the growing divide between you and your spouse, you both share something in common, something critical, the children you have had together. At Essig Law Office in Illinois, we have helped many families through the painful and challenging course of a divorce.
While you may like to believe that your divorce is not affecting your children too deeply, chances are they understand a lot more than you realize. They are probably filled with questions about why their family dynamic has changed so drastically and how these changes will affect their future and the stability and safety of their life. Providing relentless support and encouraging them to process their emotions in healthy ways is going to require that you be patient, understanding and consistent in making time to discuss their concerns with them.
According to helpguide.org, understanding your divorce from the perspective of your children is critical in your ability to behave in ways that allow your child to continue to grow despite the unsettling changes he or she is experiencing. Some of the things you should be aware of include the following:
- Your child wants to maintain a relationship with both you and your spouse.
- Your child does not want to feel guilty for spending time with his or her other parent.
- Your child does not want to be responsible for communicating for you or your spouse.
When you take a moment to step back and try to understand the concerns of your children in terms of your divorce, you may be better able to help them cope in ways that are effective. For more information about child custody, visit our web page.