Divorcing with Kids

There’s an old statistic that people like to quote which says that half of all marriages end in divorce. However, that’s not true. Divorce rates have been on the decline for the past two decades. 

The current percentage of marriages that end in divorce is between 41 and 42%. While the divorce rate going down is great, divorce is still a reality for many people. Divorcing with kids is even harder.

How to make a divorce as painless as possible for their kid is something millions of adults deal with. There are some things you can do, though, and we’ll talk about them in this article.

Reassure Them

The biggest worry most children have during a divorce is if it’s somehow their fault. Others fear that you might not love them anymore. After all, you don’t seem to love the other parent.

They also want to know that you don’t expect them to take sides. To this end, avoid yelling or badmouthing the other parent in your child’s presence.

In some instances, this might be harder, such as in a high-asset divorce. You might have to compromise on a few things you’d rather fight for so the child gets a sense of normality again. If you’re looking at a high-asset divorce, follow this link.

Be Honest

The best thing you can do for a child during a divorce is to tell them the truth. People often underestimate kids. Most of them have the intelligence and maturity to understand the basic idea of divorce and why it’s happening.

 Many parents worry about the emotional weight of divorce and fear how it will affect their children. In truth, most kids handle it well and aren’t doomed to some horrible future.

The issue with the statistics on children of divorced parents is that they can’t account for everything. Your child’s reaction to your divorce is more about how you handle it than anything. Many of the kids significantly affected by divorce deal with other issues as well, such as a volatile relationship between parents or lack of attention at home.

Be There for Them

You’re no longer a spouse after a divorce, but you’ll never stop being a parent. For the sake of your child, try to keep in contact with your spouse and keep things civil.

Try not to take visitation from the other parent unless they’re a legitimate danger to themselves of your child. Do your best to make sure the child still has both parents in their life.

A Guide to Divorcing with Kids

Divorce is hard on everyone, and divorcing with kids is even harder. Remember that your child isn’t involved by choice. They’re not a target for your anger, nor are they a weapon to use against the other parent.

The best way to help a child through your divorce is to love them. We’ve talked about how to do that in the paragraphs above, but just being there for them is often enough.

You can learn more about a variety of things by reading our blog.