Divorce can be a disruptive process in the life of a child, causing potential long-term emotional and psychological trauma. Fortunately, a seasoned divorce attorney can help you take care of your divorce expeditiously and with the least amount of stress, making it easier on every one that is affected, especially your kids. Aside from getting an attorney, there are other measures you can take as a parent to help your child deal with a divorce.

How to Support Your Child During a Divorce

1. Encourage Openness and Honesty

Children go through a full range of emotions when they learn about their parents' divorce. It will be healthier for them to put their feelings into words. Reassure your kids that they don’t need to bottle up their emotions and that they can confide in you.

No doubt, some of what your kids say will be difficult for you to hear. But they need to know you are always there to listen. By validating their feelings about the divorce, you encourage them to remain open and honest with you.

2. Be Tactful

Keep the details of the divorce private and avoid having your kids in the same room when you speak to your divorce attorney, family, or friends about the separation. Keep in mind that your children must only hear what they need to know. 

Also, never try to convince them that your former spouse is to blame for your marriage's failure, even if the circumstances that triggered it are hurtful to you. Remember that, at this point, what your kids need to hear and feel is how much they are loved and that the family break-up is not their fault. This will help minimize their feelings of anxiety, fear, and insecurity.

3. Provide Stability

While children need to become resilient, it can be challenging for them to adjust to too many changes all at once. Without a doubt, the presence of your divorce attorney and mandatory court appearances are already troubling enough for them. 

Try giving them a sense of stability and comfort by retaining or introducing some structure into their daily lives. These structures can help them feel like there are still things they can control, rely on, or look forward to. This way, too, you can protect them from the deeper turmoil and uncertainty that divorce may bring.

Whether you need a divorce attorney, a family court attorney, or custody lawyer, Don Roberts Law Offices is ready to provide you with expert legal representation. They work with clients in Hilliard, Columbus, Dublin, and Franklin County, OH, and help them meet their legal goals. Call their office today at (614) 777-4500 to schedule your free initial consultation. You can also visit their website to get in touch with them.

_{Don Roberts Law Offices is based in Columbus, Ohio, but serves clients throughout the State of Ohio. Our office in Hilliard, Ohio, is convenient to Dublin, New Jefferson, Bexley, Westerville, New Albany, Hilliard, Grove City, Reynoldsburg, Gahanna, and other Franklin County municipalities. Our office is located in central Ohio and is just a short drive to/from anywhere in Ohio. Attorney Advertising: This website is designed for general information only and should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. See our profile at Avvo.com or Martindale.com.}