Learning that their parents are getting a divorce is a scary time for children. Many worry about what’s going to happen in the future. They may be concerned about what happened to cause the split. Sometimes, children blame themselves. Showing the children that they’ll have the support of both parents is important.
One of the most important things parents can do for their children during and after a divorce is to give them the stability that they need to thrive. This can be a challenge, especially when the parents are going through so much themselves.
Show a united front
You and your ex may not get along, but you have to show the children that you’re going to be a parenting team to raise them. Putting aside the things that led to the divorce and focusing solely on the children can make this a bit easier. You can foster this united front by telling the children about the divorce together and going from there.
Support the parent-child relationship
Your children need to know that both parents support the relationship the children have with the other parent. Never make the children feel as though you don’t want them to enjoy their time with your ex. Instead, encourage them to share those fun memories with you so they can see that you want them to have that relationship.
Your parenting plan is one of the best ways that you have to quell your child’s divorce-related fears. Taking the time to carefully plan the terms can help the children and the parents alike. Be sure that you set these according to what the children need right now because you can always modify the terms of the agreement if those needs change.