Kids go through a challenging time during parental separation (as do the mother and father). But what can you do to ease the process and make it more manageable?
That’s the topic discussed in this guide. We look at some of the ways you can make life better for your kids if you want to break from your spouse, reducing the risk of harming them.
Collaborate With Your Ex
First, you’ll want to work with your ex to take care of co-parenting responsibilities. Managing the kids with them is an excellent way to make the process more seamless and give kids an experience that’s similar to before.
Collaborating with your ex could mean things like picking up the kids from school or preparing meals for them on alternating days of the week or the weekend. It really is up to you how you distribute the workload, as long as it is amicable.
Provide Stability And Routine
Another thing you can do is provide your kids with stability and routine. Getting them to do all the usual things like go to school and 8:00 am and then eat dinner at 6:00 pm creates order in their lives, even if it seems like their family is in chaos.
When you keep things the same other than the parental separation, it creates a sense of security amid change. Things feel like they always did and no differently.
Keep The Transition Smooth
You also want to keep the transition between homes smooth. Moving somewhere local and working with divorce solicitors is helpful for ensuring that everything stays above board.
A smooth transition means packing toys and clothing to deck out their rooms and provide additional comfort. It also means deciding on a regular timetable so that if kids are traveling between properties, it doesn’t have an effect on their routine.
Use Extended Family Support
Another way to make life easier during parental separation is to look for support in the extended family. Aunts, brothers, sisters, grandparents and everyone else can lend a helping hand from time to time.
The great thing about extended families is the support system they offer. Working with other people is useful if you can feel yourself struggling to do everything by yourself.
Offer Emotional Support
You could also offer your kids emotional support during what is understandably a difficult time for them. Dealing with their feelings, like anger, sadness, and guilt is all helpful.
If you want, you can set up a space where they can share their feelings. Some children will be okay, but others might feel emotional at the prospect of their parents splitting up.
Give Them Space
You can also help manage the situation by giving your children some extra space around the time of the divorce. The more room they feel they have to manage their emotions, the better off they will be.
Don’t smother children who simply want to be left alone. This strategy rarely works and it can sometimes make things worse.
