A child whose parents are going through a divorce is also going through a major time of transformation. The parents must ensure they do what they can to make things as easy as possible for the children.
One of the best ways that they can do this is to give them space to be children. Making sure you never do these three things can help you to give your children the stability they need:
1. Never use your child as a messenger
Children shouldn’t be asked to pass messages between parents. Direct communication between adults is crucial because this minimizes the chance of misinformation. It also ensures the child isn’t having to deal with the raw emotions that come with some messages.
2. Never use your child as a spy
Don’t ask your child what’s going on at the other parent’s home unless there’s a reason to suspect abuse and neglect. Children shouldn’t ever feel as though they have to watch one parent for the other, and they shouldn’t think they have to hide things about one parent from the other parent.
3. Never use your child as a sounding board
Your child shouldn’t be a sounding board for you to vent. Even if you aren’t happy with your ex, that’s still your child’s other parent. Your child shouldn’t have to hear harsh words about either of their parents.
Making sure you have a solid parenting plan in place is critical. This can help your children to have the stability to thrive. If your negotiations with your co-parent have fallen through, find out more about your legal options.