
When there’s a divorce in the family, things can get difficult. Not only do the parents start finding out new ways of communicating with each other, but they also have to start learning new ways of dealing with their children. Hence, there’s no denying the fact that the impact of divorce on children can be long-lasting and strong. While some elderly children react naturally and in an understanding manner to divorce, some others find it difficult to go through the transition.
A Columbus divorce attorney reportedly revealed how children bear the brunt of so many divorces. They find it tough to accept the fact that their parents are no longer in a cordial relationship. Here are a few ways in which divorce can affect children.
The first year is the toughest
Research reveals that kids usually struggle to come to terms with the divorce during the first or second year. During this time, they’ll most probably experience distress, anxiety, anger, and disbelief.
However, there are several other mature kids who can bounce back very soon after such a heartbreaking experience. They engage themselves in their daily routines and start getting comfortable with their new living arrangements. On the other hand, there is a small percentage of children who even face problems throughout their life due to their parent’s divorce.
How does divorce affect children emotionally?
There is no doubt about the fact that divorce leads to emotional turmoil within the whole family, but in the case of kids, the situation can get confusing, scary, and even frustrating.
Young kids often find it difficult to understand why they suddenly have two homes now when they used to have one before. They can start worrying about the fact that their parents have stopped loving each other and they can even stop loving them someday.
If you have teenagers at home, they can get frustrated and angry about the divorce mainly because of the changes that are created due to the separation. Teens usually blame a parent for the divorce or they can even resent both parents for the disruption in the family.
Each of the situations is unique and in some extreme situations, a child can also be relieved due to the separation. This is when a divorce means less stress and fewer disagreements.
Children get feelings of guilt
Children are often left wondering why such a divorce is happening in their life. Knowing nothing about the reasons, they start searching for them. They keep wondering whether or not it is happening because their parents don’t love each other or if something else has gone wrong. Such guilt feelings have a common impact on children and can lead to stress, depression, and other health-related issues.
While these are a few of the potential impacts of divorce on children, families should understand how stressful things can get for the children. Families may resort to supportive services where they can find out a smooth way to divorce that doesn’t affect their children.