8 Ways To Protect Your Children from the harm of Divorce

30th May 2020

 

HOW DO I PROTECT MY CHILDREN FROM THE HARM OF DIVORCE?

Our children are the most important things in our lives as parents. They bring us untold happiness and joy and utmost worry and grief at other times. Yet we would never be without them. We want to protect them from any harm and particularly want to avoid inflicting any harm on them through our own actions.

Staying for the children is often what keeps a parent in an unhealthy and unhappy relationship. This actually may cause more trauma and long-lasting harm than had the parents agreed to separate.

8 Ways to protect your children from the harm of divorce

1. Put aside any tension that may exist between you and the other parent and agree to apply a united front to your children. Even if they do not show it the children are likely to be feeling anxious and uncertain

2. Living in separate households does not dilute parental responsibility. It is important that this legal concept is respected and followed at all times

3. Make sure there is plenty of indirect contact between the non-present parent. For instance, Zoom, Skype and Facetime video calls, audio calls, text and iMessages, letters etc

4. Try, wherever possible, to make joint decisions about the children always putting the best interests of the children first, no matter how you feel about the other parent. 

5. Communicate honestly with the other parent 

6. Be careful of the content of any messages or emails you send the other parent as these can be used in evidence now or at any time in the future. Do not let your feelings about the situation or the other parent influence your message content

7. There are bound to be disagreements and heated discussions, but make sure these take place away from the children.

8. Don't rush into introducing new partners to the children.

Most of all remember children are more resilient than parents often give them credit for.

If you the parents conduct yourselves civilly toward each other and shield the children from any unpleasantness the children will be just fine and will grow up in to be rounded adults able to form and enjoy their own fully functioning relationships 

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