As a Maryland parent who is going through a divorce, you might notice that your child is struggling to cope with the changes and uncertainties that accompany it. While some children might be able to express what they are feeling, others might struggle even further to put into words their experiences. As a parent, there are things you can do to comfort them through the process.
Keep an open line of communication
For children, understanding what is going on and how things are changing might be one of the most important ways to deal with their parents’ divorce. You can help them by answering their questions about the divorce honestly. It doesn’t mean you go into the specific details about why your spouse and you have broken up, for example, if there was adultery involved. However, you can answer questions about how the living arrangements will change and how the children’s lives might be affected in everyday ways.
Reassure them of your love and support
Children need to feel love to feel secure and during a complicated process such as a divorce, and they might need additional reassurance that they are still loved by both parents. Some of the ways you can do this include:
- Show them that the divorce has nothing to do with the children and that you remain a family
- Ask them about their needs and how you can help them feel better
- Encourage their relationship with the other parent so they can feel sure that both parents continue to love them
- Teach them how to handle overwhelming feelings by modeling how you do it
- Include fun activities that might take their mind off the divorce temporarily so they can focus on simply being children
Comforting your children through the divorce will help them feel secure and stable. This will help them to continue to grow and become emotionally healthy.