Pennsylvania Divorce Topic Of The Week: The Children

Divorce is often a traumatic event for the whole family, but it is the effect of divorce drama on children in the family that tends to be the most heartbreaking for parents. For children, their parents’ separation often comes as a sudden, unexpected interruption to the unified family the child was born into. This trauma can be even more severe and cause a great deal of emotion during this holiday season. In today’s blog, your Pittsburgh Divorce Lawyers take a look at divorce from the perspective of a child.

Divorce can be stressful, sad and confusing for everybody involved, regardless of age. Whether your child is six or sixteen, he or she may feel uncertain or angry with the prospect of mom and dad splitting up. As parents, divorcing spouses can control the process and work together to minimize their children’s pain. But what exactly should parents do? Here are some tips and things to keep in mind throughout the process of your PA divorce.

•1. Don’t bad-mouth the other parent: Remember, children are the product of both parents and divorce won’t change the fact that children love both parents. Even though parents may feel the urge to tell their children what kind of person the other parent really is, kids just don’t care. Children polled almost uniformly said that hearing bad things from mom about dad (or vice versa) only hurts their feelings.

•2. Don’t make me feel bad for loving the other parent: Although parents going through a divorce may have come to the conclusion that they no longer love the other parent that doesn’t mean that their children’s love for that parent has likewise dried up. Children don’t want to choose. They love both parents and want to be loved unconditionally by both, too.

•3. Keep me out of the adult stuff: Divorce can be emotionally charged and stressful, but it can also be very confusing. While parents might think that letting their kids in on what’s going on might help them to understand the situation. But all too often such an approach just confuses and puts more stress on an already fragile child. Sometimes the best explanation of a particular issue is none at all.

If you are facing a Pennsylvania divorce, contact our Western PA Divorce Lawyers at Taybron Law Firm, LLC. Our team of attorneys will provide you with the legal representation and guidance you need throughout your PA divorce.