Divorce is not only hard on you and your soon-to-be-ex, but it is also hard on the kids. In fact, it’s hard on the whole family. You’ve invested a lot in the relationship, but your kids were born into this partnership, and it can take a lot to cope.
This is a time in your life that can be exceptionally hard and stressful, and kids can feel all of this in their surrounding environment. That is why it is crucial to focus on their mental health and support them in healthy ways.
You may not understand the ways to help them, but it can be small things. In bad cases, a divorce lawyer can help two parents come to terms with mediation. This may also indirectly help your child in this situation. There are other small tips you can do to help your child’s mental health through this time.
Tips to Help Your Child’s Mental Health
The first thing to remember is to keep your kids out of the nitty-gritty details of the divorce. Even when a divorce can get nasty, they don’t need to be in the middle of it and don’t need to hear you talk bad about each other. This can cause stress, anxiety, and unwanted feelings of anger that make it harder for a kid. Take a look at these tips to help support your child’s mental health.
Tell The Truth
>Kids know more than we care to admit. By lying or keeping the truth from them for their own good, it may do the opposite. Lying may cause more confusion and sadness in your kid’s life, which can affect their mental health. Get on the same page with your spouse about what you are going to tell your kids. If you need a mediator, get an attorney’s help to settle on something.
Encourage Them to Be Open
It’s natural for your kids to have questions about the divorce. Allowing them to come to you and to ask questions honestly will allow them to cope better. Allow them to share their fears with you and share how they are feeling without getting defensive.
Acknowledge and Legitimize Their Feelings
>The next thing you can do as a parent is acknowledge their feelings and tell them it is okay to feel the way they do. This action tells kids their feelings are valid and you care for them. It will also make them feel noticed by you during a turbulent time.
Keep Yourself Healthy
You will be going through tons of emotions, and it’s easy to start projecting your stress from the divorce. One thing you can do is rely on lawyers to take care of the communication to focus on your own mental health.
Get Help/h3>
There are tons of ways to get support for you and your child. There are group therapy sessions kids can attend and may find things in common with; there are also tons of things you can attend. When you get help, your kids will follow your example.
If you need help or need a mediation lawyer give Petrelli Previtera, LLC a call today. We can find an attorney who best suits your needs.