A divorce may be one of the most stressful events of your life, and this is often true whether you come to a settlement or litigate issues in a West Virginia courtroom. However, the end of your marriage may be even more stressful for your children as they have little control over the impact it may have on their lives.
Create a sense of routine
Children benefit greatly from having structure and routine in their lives. Therefore, it’s generally a good idea to have them go to bed at the same time, eat dinner at the same time and follow other established routines. By keeping things as close to the same as possible after a divorce, your children will eventually adjust to their new normal and begin to accept it.
Children need to belong somewhere
One of the primary downfalls of their parents’ divorce is that they have to spend time in two homes. Although it’s good for a child to see both parents, it doesn’t make spending time in multiple locations any easier. However, you can ease this burden by making sure that your child has a room in both houses that is furnished with clothes, toys or whatever else they need to feel comfortable. Taking this step means that your kid won’t be living out of a suitcase or otherwise feeling displaced until adulthood.
Be there for your kids
Children generally have a hard time expressing their emotions, and in some cases, this is because they don’t want to upset you or get in trouble for speaking out. Therefore, it’s important that your kids know that you are always available to talk and that they can feel free to speak their minds.
As part of the divorce process, you will need to create a parenting plan with your former spouse. If a plan cannot be devised through private talks or mediation, a judge will make one for you. This plan will typically address issues such where a child stays and how often a child moves between homes.