Navigating a divorce is never easy, but when a divorce gets messy and children are involved, it is important to protect your children from the fallout. Failure to protect your children from a messy divorce can result in serious stress and emotional turmoil for them. Thankfully, there are some steps that you can take to prevent your children from these harms during your divorce while you separate from your spouse. For more advice on protecting your children from contentious divorce proceedings, the experienced Fredericksburg area and Northern Virginia divorce attorneys atSelect Law Partners are here to help. Call the office or contact us today to schedule a consultation of your case.
Do Not Badmouth Your Ex
One of the best things that you can do to protect your kids from a messy divorce is to avoid badmouthing your former spouse in their presence. This can be particularly difficult to do because feelings of anger, frustration, and confusion are common. Feel free to express these emotions to friends, adult family members, or a therapist, but be sure to never make negative statements about your spouse in front of them.
Also, do not play the blame game or make statements to your children that blame the other parent for the marriage falling apart. This can make your children feel like they have to choose sides, when they should be maintaining a relationship with both parents whenever possible.
Be Consistent and Predictable
In order to protect your children from a contentious divorce situation, try to be as consistent and predictable for your kids as possible. This includes picking up and dropping off from school, being present at extracurricular activities, and maintaining a schedule at home. Divorce is an upheaval in a child’s life, so knowing that there is consistency and predictability from you as a parent can go a long way.
Be Cooperative and Fair
Dealing with your former spouse can be difficult, but you should try to be as cooperative and fair as possible when it comes to your children. Be fair in scheduling time with your children when it comes to holidays, weekends, birthdays, and other special occasions. When you treat your ex with fairness your child will know and feel better about the situation. Be cooperative and communicative with your former spouse when it comes to the needs of your children. While other areas of your divorce may not be as peaceful or cooperative, you should try to maintain civility when it comes to your children.
Contact Us Today
Filing for divorce can be emotionally and psychologically draining, especially if the proceedings are contentious or outright hostile. However, the experienced Fredericksburg area and Northern Virginia divorce attorneys at Kurylo Gold & Josey are here to help you shield your children from a messy divorce. To learn more about your legal options, call or contact the office today to schedule a consultation of your case now.
Matt Kurylo
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