Conflict during divorce is something most people expect to occur between the two emotionally charged individuals changing almost every aspect of their lives. When children are involved in the conflict, the situation can create long-term emotional drama that can affect those small ones long into the future. Here are three ways you can protect your children during your divorce.
1. Control Yourself
Your emotions will become rollercoasters of reactions to the world as you try to understand your situation as it changes. There will be fear, sadness, resentment, and anger, and the feelings will overflow onto your children if you are not careful. To prevent the spread of the emotional responses your children won’t understand, control yourself when you are around them. If you find yourself taking one of your emotional reactions out on your children, train yourself to become positive in your interactions with the little ones. Although your children should be told about the divorce, your negativity should not overflow and cause the young ones to blame themselves for your unhappiness.
2. Be Honest
Your children will have many questions about the changes they experience after you visit divorce lawyers in Pasco County Florida. One of the most important responsibilities you have is to be honest with each child as they question what is occurring. However, remember to repeatedly emphasize that your divorce is between you and your partner or your child may naturally begin to create scenarios that make the divorce his or her fault. Although honesty is incredibly important, no matter how old the child is, never place blame on the other partner or a third party. The child will understand the nuances of the divorce as they are able to.
3. Remove Children
If you and your partner create a negative situation during a meeting and begin yelling or cursing at one another, remove the children immediately. It is essential to create an amicable environment when you are together, or you will compel the children to take sides and favor one parent over the other. The stress of being forced to stop loving one parent can cause mental and emotional problems for the child’s entire life as they distance themselves for the “guilty” party.
If you want to help your children successfully work through the difficulties of your divorce, remember to keep them mentally, emotionally, and physically safe. They should be allowed to love both of you, no matter what happened to cause the separation. You owe them happiness – not stress.
