When divorce is inevitable in a family, all members are affected. Children going through the divorce of their parents are the most vulnerable and need special consideration when dealing with their emotions.
Here are four things to teach your kids when divorce strikes:
1. It is not their fault.
According to Mullins family law attorneys, children tend to take the blame when the parents turn to divorce. They may feel that if they had behaved better or done their chores maybe their parents would not have fought so much leading to the divorce. Be honest with the children and let them know that the divorce was not because of their actions. Taking your children's ages into consideration, explain in general terms why the marriage was not working and let them be assured there was nothing that they could have done that would have changed the inevitable.
2. Teach your children that both of you will always love them and be there for them.
Yes, there will be a completely different living situation, but let them know that either parent can always be contacted at any time when the child needs help and that both parents love them just as they did before the divorce. Children in this situation need the feeling of security and unabridged love that they felt before divorce struck.
3. Teach your children that good expectations on their part continue just as before.
Let your children know that they are expected to continue to follow rules at either parent's home just as before the divorce. Homework is to be done on time. Chores must be carried out daily. Routines will be continued just as before, regardless of which parent's home the child is staying in at that moment.
4. Teach your children that they can always talk out their problems with an adult.
The last thing we want children going through a divorce to do is stop talking and keep feelings bottled up. Let them know that there is always someone to talk to, whether it is a parent, step-parent, grandparent, teacher or counselor.
Divorce is hard for all involved. Through the eyes of a child, watching the two most important people in his or her world split an