How To Help Your Children Through Your Divorce

Married couples get divorced all the time. It’s just a part of life, unfortunately. That being said, children don’t choose the divorce, the parents do. This can be such a life-altering event for the whole family. You don’t want this to be harder than it has to be on your children. Our divorce lawyers at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you a few tips to use to help your children through your divorce. To speak with an experienced Mid-Missouri divorce lawyer, call Deputy and Mizell today. Your first consultation is free and we can be reached at 573-346-9990.

How To Help Your Children Through Your Divorce

MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN KNOW THEY CAN BE OPEN WITH YOU.
Putting their needs first is one of the most important and valuable things you can do for your children. Though your divorce is between you and your spouse, it will inevitably impact your children in ways that you may not have not even begun to comprehend (even if you intend to approach it collaboratively). Encourage your children to talk about their feelings so that you can validate their emotions and support them through the process as much as possible. This support will make a world of difference.

SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND KEEP YOUR NEGATIVE FEELINGS ABOUT YOUR EX TO YOURSELF AROUND THEM.
Remember: your ex is not your child’s ex. Though you may have decided that you can no longer remain married to him/her, your children may still care deeply about their other parent and wish for him/her to stay actively involved in their lives. Talking badly about your spouse in front of your children puts them in an impossible and stressful situation. For your children’s sake, keep them out of the tension between you and your spouse as much as possible.

NEVER THREATEN YOUR EX USING CHILD CUSTODY AND VISITATION.
This is the most important thing you can do for your children. While you and your spouse are likely navigating several disagreements, it is imperative that you keep your children out of the debates if at all possible. Attempting to use custody/visitation rights as leverage only makes things harder on your kids (and may actually decrease your chances of getting custody in the long run). Keep your spousal disagreements separate from the custody/visitation arrangements.

DON’T ASSUME THE WORST.
While it’s true that most couples going through a divorce are highly combative and argumentative, collaborative divorces can (and do) happen. If both spouses are committed to working through the process as cooperatively as possible, mutually beneficial arrangements can be reached much more easily. In addition to making things easier on the spouses, approaching the situation collaboratively can greatly reduce the stress on the children involved.

If You Need An Experienced Family Law Attorney in Mid-Missouri To Guide You Through Your Complicated Divorce, You’ve Came To The Right Place…

The divorce lawyers at Deputy and Mizell are here for you. While we always attempt to negotiate a fair resolution without the need for costly and painful litigation, our opponents know that we will not hesitate to go to court in order to protect our clients’ interests. You can benefit from having an experienced attorney on your side during a difficult time like this in a number of ways. Call today at our Camdenton phone number listed below to schedule your free consultation.