If there is one thing most people agree on, it is that divorce can be extremely taxing, especially if children are involved. It is not uncommon for emotions to soar high when negotiating or litigating a child’s post-divorce living arrangements.
One beautiful constant amidst the chaos of the divorce, however, is that you love and want the very best for your children. For this reason, it is important that you are mindful of your children’s well-being during these turbulent times. Here are three things you do not want to tell your children during (or after) your divorce.
Lies
Your children deserve to know about the changing family dynamics because, in the end, they will know about your divorce anyway. Lying to the kids that the other parent has gone on a “business trip” and that they will be back soon will probably hurt more than help. And so would having them learn about their parents’ divorce from third parties.
Unguarded truths
While you should never lie to the kids about your divorce, it is also important to understand that how you handle this truth matters. Each divorce case is unique, and that means the circumstances that led to your divorce are bound to differ from someone else’s divorce. So, while talking about your divorce to the kids, avoid shelling out negative remarks about the other parent. This could actually amount to parental alienation and it could hurt your child custody case as well as your kids.
How to spy on their other parent
There are plenty of ways to track your ex’s movements. Your children should never be part of your game plan. Avoid the temptation to use your kids to extract information from their other parent, and this includes using them to find out if your ex is seeing someone. If you are concerned about your child’s well-being, consider raising the matter with your ex or the court.
Protecting your children’s wellbeing
Divorce is a difficult undertaking. Learning more about your rights and obligations to your children during your divorce can help you safeguard your child’s best interests alongside an experienced legal professional during these turbulent times.
