The Dos and Don’ts
It is not surprising that divorce is an uncomfortable topic to talk about, but what many people tend to forget is the emotional toll that it can take on the children, adolescents and young adults. Divorce introduces a massive change into the life of a boy or girl no matter what the age. Witnessing the loss of love and commitment between parents, adjusting to going back and forth between households, and the daily absence of one parent while living with the other, all create a challenging new way of life. There is clearly a difference in emotions based on the age of the child, however, no matter what age, there can be “dos” and don’ts” to follow when facing new challenge in life.
That being said, over the past few years of working as a Paralegal here at LaMonaca Law, I have picked up on a few tips that parents may want to consider when facing an emotionally charged divorce.
- DO: Be honest with your children. They know what is going on and they can pick up on the stress that you are experiencing. The more upfront and honest you are, the easier the transition may be.
- DON’T: Be TOO honest. While I believe honesty is important, oversharing of your emotions and ill-feelings toward your ex is NOT helpful. As hard as it may be, it is important that parents respect their ex whether that be in person or to their child.
- DO: Encourage your child’s relationship with your ex. Every child wants both parents in their life and to the extent both parents can provide a healthy and satisfying life for the child, there is no reason why they should not.
- DON’T: Use your child as a pawn. It is not conducive to any relationship that you discourage your child from seeing their Mother or Father. It is harmful to their emotional well-being and may cause resentment in the future.
These are just a few tips that we can offer to assist the transition into this new challenge in life. As a paralegal, I take pride in listening to your concerns, relieving the initial fear of starting the process and putting you in touch with one of our many wonderful attorneys. The first step is the most difficult and I look forward to personally assisting you in any family law matters. Click or Call our office at 610-892-3877
