Going through a divorce can be a difficult process, but it can be even harder when children are involved. Younger children have a hard time understanding why they have to stay at one house or the other and where the other parent is, or why they aren't coming home. Older children also have a tough time with divorce, as they are trying to understand the ins and outs of the process, but they have an opinion and may end up taking sides.
If you are going through a divorce and have older teenage children, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Read on for helpful information.
1. Don't Overshare
Just because your teenage child seems to be mature for their age doesn't mean you should be sharing every single detail of your divorce with them. You shouldn't be providing this information to your child at all. Information about what happened in the divorce, the reasons for the divorce, or what assets were divided up or paid out should not be given to your teenage child. This is not any of their business and should not be discussed by either party to the teenage child. This information will only indirectly destroy relationships and can cause further stress on your child.
2. Don't Allow What Normally Wouldn't Be Allowed
If you normally wouldn't allow your child a sleepover on a school night, don't start now. If you normally wouldn't allow your child to color their hair or get a piercing, don't suddenly allow this now. You need to stay on the same track you were on throughout; don't try to be the cool parent just to win over your child. You need to continue to be the parent you always were, giving in to every single thing your child desires isn't going to do anything but cause hurt in the end.
3. Don't Talk Badly About Your Ex
Never discuss your ex in a bad light in front of your child. Even if it's your child that ends up coming to you first and attempts to talk poorly about your ex. You should always speak of the other party in a neutral light and encourage the relationship between your child and your ex, not try to hinder it.
Divorce with teenage children involved can be difficult to navigate. Try your best to stay positive and remember that it is your child, not your friend, you are raising. Keep your relationship with your child as parent and child, and keep all opinions or information about your divorce and your ex to yourself. For more insight and assistance, contact services like Anthony Law Office.
You love your family. You want your kids to have what is best, and you are willing to fight for them to the very end. Thankfully, there are professionals out there who are able to support you and do the same. They're called family lawyers. Although they typically handle a lot of divorce cases, you can call upon them for other family-related legal needs, too. They oversee adoptions, draft custody agreements, and so much more. We hope you will read the articles on this blog, which delve deeper into these topics. You'll emerge knowing more about hiring such an attorney.