Adjusting to life after divorce is hard for many Maryland families, regardless of financial status. However, families who have to deal with a drastic change in their financial situation after divorce might have a more challenging time.
It can be a lot to cope with, especially for your children. Thankfully, there are ways to help them adjust to life after divorce.
Focus on the positives
A lot of changes happen immediately after divorce that can be hard for families to adjust to. It can be easy to become too focused on all of the negative changes that come after divorce.
Instead, you should try to get your children – and yourself – to focus on the positives. This is easier said than done, but it can help make the changes easier to swallow.
You can also get creative, especially when dealing with many financial changes. For example, if your kids want to go out to do something, you can suggest a cheaper alternative that involves staying indoors – like watching favorite movies and eating popcorn vs. going to a movie theatre.
Be open with your children – within reason
While looking on the bright side is an excellent short-term solution, it’s not exactly a long-term solution. Odds are, your kids might have a lot of questions or still be understandably upset.
You should work with your ex-spouse to figure out how you will talk to your kids about the divorce after it’s settled. Acknowledge your children’s feelings and be willing to talk to them about how the divorce is a good thing, without throwing your ex under the bus.
It might take repeated conversations for your kids to understand and accept all of the changes. It is important to be willing to hear them out and emphasize that this will get easier, and both of their parents still love them.