For many adults, divorce is an emotional topic. This is true even when you are the one who asked for the divorce and who wants to end the marriage. You expect this and, ideally, you prepare to deal with the emotional side by forming a support group, practicing self-care and really putting an emphasis on dealing with this side of the equation.
That’s wise and important. However, if you’re a parent, do not forget that your children are going to be dealing with a lot of emotions, as well. It’s important to help them through this. Their emotions could include feelings of:
- Confusion
- Loss
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Being overwhelmed
- Feeling extra sensitive
That does not mean the divorce was the wrong idea or that you shouldn’t go forward with it. Often, children just do not understand all of the intricacies in the process. For instance, maybe you understand that your spouse’s addiction problems put them in danger and led to financial instability. All they see is that there are big changes in their life. They have to move, they see the other parent less often, and everything they have known is changing. That’s hard for them to process and it can lead to emotional outbursts, even when you know that you have done the right thing.
All of this just goes to show how complex divorce can be, especially when children are involved. Be sure that you know what options you have and how you can offer them the support they need. In a divorce, the best interests of the children always need to come first.