Helpful Tips to Protect Your Children During Your Illinois Divorce

 Posted on November 23, 2020 in Divorce

Each year, there are millions of divorces that take place across the country. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the latest data shows that there were an estimated 2.9 divorces for every 1,000 people in the United States in 2018. While that number has decreased somewhat since 2000—when the rate was an estimated 4.0 divorces for every 1,000 people—divorce still remains a common occurrence in our country. Many of these divorces involve children and bring along a litany of issues that must be settled because of it. Parents often wonder how their divorce will affect their children and what they can do to prevent any effects from taking hold. If you are going through an Illinois divorce with your children, here are a few things you should keep in mind:

• Avoid fighting in front of your children at all costs. It is not the divorce itself that is the cause of the stress and other long-term effects in children, such as anger, depression, and school/social difficulties. Multiple studies have shown that it may actually be exposure to conflict and arguments that cause these negative consequences to take root. You should try to avoid arguments or other fights until you and your spouse are away from your children or alone.

• Do not speak negatively about your spouse to your child. Your child does not care what happened during your marriage. All your child knows is that you and your spouse are mom and dad and that you are loved very much. Your child deserves to maintain a positive image of both parents without the other parent attempting to spoil that.

• Allow your child to have access to both parents. Even though you may feel as if you want to “punish” your spouse by maintaining a majority or all of the parenting time, your child deserves better. You should still allow your child to spend time with both you and your spouse, regardless of how you may feel about your spouse.

• Try to maintain a sense of normalcy. Getting a divorce changes everything and can often make children feel as if their lives have been turned upside down. You should try to maintain as much of a routine as you can to give your child a sense of comfort and security that they have since lost.

Speak to Our Naperville Divorce Attorney About Your Case Today

Getting a divorce can be an extremely stressful and emotional experience for the entire family—including the children. Though it is not the divorce itself that is the cause of the negative effects that children can experience, a divorce can certainly exacerbate the issues and conflicts that were already present in the household. If you believe that divorce may be an option for you, there is a right and a wrong way to do it and our DuPage County divorce lawyers can help. At the Law Office of Ronald L. Hendrix, P.C., we can help you go through your divorce with minimal conflict as a goal. To schedule a free consultation, call our office today at 630-355-7776.

Sources:

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/parenting-family/children-and-divorce.htm

https://childmind.org/article/how-to-protect-your-children-when-your-marriage-is-ending/

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/national-marriage-divorce-rates-00-18.pdf