There’s a lot to consider when you’re getting a divorce. The house, the car, your shared assets, and everything else you need to separate can quickly make the challenge of parting ways feel overwhelming. No matter what you’re splitting, though, it all pales in comparison to your child’s well-being.

The decision to get divorced isn’t one that’s made lightly, and now you’ve found yourself wondering how you can make sure that your child feels safe, supported, and stable as you work through the changes. In a previous post, we provided you with several tips that can help you make the divorce process easier on your child, particularly during the beginning stages in which you have to break the news to them. In today’s post, we’re going to continue discussing ways to support your child and help them cope with the ongoing changes in a healthy way.

If you’re considering getting a divorce, it’s best to start by talking about your options with an experienced divorce attorney. Fairell Roy & Associates is currently offering virtual consultations and accepting new clients. Please get in touch with us if you would like to schedule a consultation, and continue reading to learn more about how to help your child through the process.

Divorce is an ongoing process more than a single destination. As we mentioned in our last post, you might find that your child feels comfortable with and confident in the coming changes one day and uncertain, fearful, and apprehensive the next.

You don’t need to bring it up every day, but you should make a habit of regularly checking in with your child. Ask if they have any questions, see how they’re feeling, and reassure them that you’re always available to talk. They may not have many questions or concerns when you ask, but the simple act of asking will build their trust and confidence in you.

As we’ve seen with the upheaval to our lives due to COVID-19, it’s important to retain a sense of stability and normalcy in the midst of uncertainty and hardship, no matter how old you are. However, children feel much more safe and secure when they have an idea of what each day will look like. You might be going to and from court, viewing new homes, or checking out new schools in your free time, but do everything you can to provide your child with a stable environment that’s similar to what they knew before the divorce was initiated. Some of the things you can do to stay consistent include eating meals together, making time for evening walks, playing games, and helping them with their homework each night.

Divorce can be difficult with and without children, but caring for someone else’s emotional needs can be taxing while you’re trying to care for your own. If you find yourself feeling burned out, irritable, or emotionally drained, you need to take action before those feelings overwhelm you and prevent you from fully caring for your child.

Although everyone copes with divorce differently, some of the most productive ways to cope with divorce include:

While the tips we’ve discussed in this series are intended to help you help your child through the divorce, keep in mind that you may need to contact a professional. It’s completely normal for children to feel a range of emotions as they adjust to the changes your family is going through. Anger, anxiety, and sadness can all take different forms and may manifest themselves in different ways over time. Monitor your child’s behavior and consider reaching out to a professional if their mental well-being doesn’t improve over time.

We hope that this two-part series will help you and your family as you navigate your divorce and work toward a happier life. We’ve written numerous topics about other aspects of divorce, so be sure to look through the rest of our blog if you’re interested in learning more from our family law firm.

If you have any questions that weren’t addressed in these posts, you can follow Fairell Roy & Associates on Facebook via The Fairell Firm page and tune in for live Q&A sessions every week. We answer questions from the live chat and anonymously through our direct messages, so please feel free to stop by if you would like to learn more.

We are also accepting new clients via virtual appointments, so please contact our office if you would like to schedule a consultation with a divorce attorney. At Fairell Roy & Associates, we’re committed to helping our clients through every step of the process, and you can trust that we’ll put your interests first as we work to achieve a favorable outcome in your divorce.