Another aspect to think about when getting divorced is what is best for your children. If you have children it is important to consider their ages and the impact divorce can have on them. In situations of domestic violence, the children’s safety should to be considered and made a priority.
Children react to changes in their lives in various ways and divorce is a big change not only for you, but for your children as well. Everyone reacts differently to the same situation and children are certainly no exception. This is a big reason the decision to divorce should not be made arbitrarily. However, once time has been spent to think about it and the decision to divorce has been made, then you need to consider the best way to tell your children and how to be ready for their reaction.
You may find that your child has been preparing for divorce and has been waiting for you to make the final decision to file. Children are observant. They know when there has been fighting between their parents and when it has gone on for a long time, they may be anticipating the final decision. In this case, when they are told, they may be relieved thinking that the fighting will stop, but they may not fully comprehend the seriousness of this decision as it will bring about many changes in their lives and they will need to adjust to these changes.
Other times, hearing the words, that your parents are divorcing may come as a huge shock to your children, especially depending on their ages. They may have a multitude of questions for you and your spouse and it is important to take the time and listen to your children and try to answer their questions if you can.
If you are too emotional to answer your children’s questions or do not know the best way to answer them, you should consider taking the children to a therapist who specializes in divorce or at least has experience with the topic as it relates to children. You should ask family and friends or someone you trust for names of therapists they know as a start for finding a therapist for your children. Regardless of where you find the therapist, it is important that your children talk to someone to help them through what can be a difficult and confusing time in their lives.
This is a topic that is very important, but would take several blogs or a novel to fully discuss. Be sure to talk to your attorney about suggestions they have and remember to focus on the needs of your children as well as your own.
