Young children are as unpredictable as they are resilient. One moment they are sweet and loving, and the next, they are upset because you failed to remove the crust from a peanut butter sandwich.
If they are unpredictable in a traditional family with two parents and kids, what will they be like during your divorce? Are they handling it well? Are their emotions appropriate to the stress of the situation? Do they need outside help?
Normal but distracting concerns
The questions above represent some of the concerns that plague divorcing parents. Although it is understandable to worry over your children’s psychological health, it can distract you from the process of getting your divorce. If you are overly distracted, you could make mistakes that affect your divorce settlement.
Typical child reactions to divorce
To help ease your mind, these are some of the normal ways children react to divorce:
- Increased anxiety and stress
- Self-blaming or guilt about the divorce
- Acting out or regressing to younger age behaviors
- Withdrawing or pulling away from family and friends
If your kids display these behaviors, try not to worry too much. Continue concentrating on your divorce but make time to engage with your children meaningfully each day. Doing this will likely ease their worries and fears, but it also allows you to notice if their mental or emotional health deteriorates.
With this balanced approach, you can keep a watchful eye on your kids without taking focus away from your divorce. As an unexpected benefit, your observations can help guide you when it is time to make critical child custody and support decisions. Seeking more knowledge of family law and divorce in New York is another way to improve your decision-making.