Coping

Crucial to helping your children cope through divorce is for you as parents to be civil toward each other. Conflict between parents, whether married, separated or divorced puts unnecessary stress on your children, which could last well beyond childhood. Remember it is up to you to keep your opinions and emotions in check!

Divorce brings many changes and a very real sense of loss. Children, parents, extended family and even friends are grieving the loss of your family unit. Everyone, especially your children miss the consistency of family life. The loss of a parent in the house is still missed even when there was turmoil, chaos, tension and hostility at home. It is very common and natural for your children to hold on to the hope that their parents will someday get back together again.

Even after the divorce is final, the age of the child has no bearing on this wish. Adult children still have that secret hope their parents will be together. No matter how bad their home life is or had been, children want their parents together. Mourning the loss of a family is normal, but as the saying goes “time heals all wounds". Over time your children will come to accept their new life and situation.

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