Divorce doesn’t necessarily have to ruin your children’s lives. While things in your marriage might not have worked out as you’d hoped, filing for divorce in an Ohio court doesn’t mean you wish to abdicate your parental obligations or responsibilities or that you love your children any less. That said, you’re also not naive and you understand that your decision to divorce will definitely have an impact, not only on the physical logistics of your kids’ lives but their emotional well-being as well.
Every child processes his or her parents’ divorce in a unique way although children can often relate to one another. By setting up a strong support network from the start, you can let your kids know you will be there to provide encouragement and assistance as needed. It’s always a good idea to closely monitor your children’s conditions as they come to terms with divorce and learn to move on in life.
Common emotional and psychological divorce issues
Certain issues are common consequences of divorce in children’s lives. If you notice one or more of the following issues arising in your children’s lives, try not to be alarmed:
- Your child may feel angry, upset, confused, or scared upon learning that you and your spouse are getting divorced.
- It’s common for kids to worry about finding a “new normal” when their parents divorce.
- Depending on the ages of your children, they might understand that you and your spouse will no longer be legally married but still have trouble understanding why they have to navigate between two households.
- Children often fear their parents will stop loving them because divorce suggests they have fallen out of love with each other.
- Your son or daughter might think your divorce is his or her fault.
- Many children worry about having to move, go to new schools, or make new friends when their parents’ divorce prompts a need for such changes.
You might notice signs that your children are struggling psychologically or emotionally with your divorce. For instance, academic grades might take a nosedive, disrupted sleep patterns might surface, trouble eating or even signs of regression may become apparent.
Where to seek support
The good news is that you don’t have to go it alone as you try to help your children cope with divorce and build a new lifestyle together. If you and your ex are like-minded on most important issues, your co-parenting arrangement may run smoothly, which can definitely help kids cope in a healthy, positive manner. On the contrary, parental disagreements can intensify children’s coping problems.
Wise Ohio parents often stay closely connected to licensed counselors, teachers, faith leaders in their community, and experienced attorneys, who each have specialized skills and talents that can help families come to terms with divorce and overcome any obstacles that arise in the process.