The end of a marriage is a stressful and heartbreaking time for most people. Adults can have difficulty adjusting to divorced life. It can be even harder for Ohio children, who must come to terms with their parents no longer loving each other and now living apart. Not surprisingly, your children may have a difficult time coping.
As Verywell Family explains, the first year after a divorce is often the most difficult time for parents and children alike to get used to their new lives and schedules. During this time, you will want to speak with your children often about their feelings and reassure them that both parents will always love them. Children can react to their parents’ divorce in different ways, according to their ages, as in the following examples:
- Younger children may not understand why their parents live in separate homes, and they may react by regressing with certain milestones, such as wetting the bed or not using the toilet, and by becoming overly clingy and emotionally dependent.
- Older children may blame themselves for the divorce and be afraid their parents do not love them as much.
- Teenagers may blame their parents and become withdrawn and depressed or act out aggressively.
Worsening depression and anxiety, behavior problems, academic struggles and difficulty adjusting to life changes are signs that children may be struggling to move on from the divorce. If you notice these signs, you may want to consider having your children speak with a therapist. With the proper support of their parents and others, children often move on to heal from their parents’ divorce.