Effects of Divorce on Families and Children
Divorce is a traumatic experience for everyone that is involved. The former spouses, even if it is an amicable divorce, or going through many life changes after becoming single adults again. However, the children of divorce are the ones that undergo the most stress and chaos when a marriage dissolves.
As an OKC divorce lawyer, it is part of our responsibility to ensure that all the legal aspects concerning the health and happiness of the children are addressed. Child custody and support must always be in the best interest of the children. It is the parent’s responsibility, however, to make sure that this transition into living in a single-parent home is as gentle a possible on the children.
The best way to do this is through the 3-R’s: Routine, Rituals, and Reassurance.
Creating a routine for your children under their new living conditions is very important. There is something that is emotionally comforting about knowing what is going to happen next. After the upheaval of divorce, that stability is very important to their healing process.
Rituals are also a very important part of making the children’s life more stabilized after divorce. Set a specific dinner time each day so that your family can dine together and establish times of the day for different activities. Much like a standard routine, having more personal rituals to follow provides a sense of security.
The final thing that each parent must do, even if they are not the main care provider, provides reassurance for their children that everything will be okay. Let them know that they are not the cause of the divorce and that each parent still loves them more than anything in the world. Children often fear they are the cause of divorce; it is crucial to make them understand this is not true.
The well being of your children during the divorce is often left to the OKC divorce lawyer handling the case. Afterward, both parents must make the commitment to make sure that their children recover and heal from this traumatic life event.