Going through a divorce is very difficult for the parties involved. However, it can also have a huge impact on your children. Your top priority is protecting your child's well-being and creating as smooth a transition as possible during this process. In this post, we'll explore tips to help shield your child from the stresses of divorce. With some thoughtful planning and the help of a child custody lawyer, you can make the entire process smoother for you and your children.

Choose an Experienced Child Custody Lawyer

Navigating divorce and child custody issues is complex. An experienced family law attorney who specializes in child custody can help. They will protect your child's best interests throughout the legal process. Interview lawyers to find one you and your child feel comfortable with. A compassionate child custody lawyer makes the process less stressful for the whole family.

Communicate Openly Using Your Attorney's Guidance

When discussing divorce with your child, use honest, direct language without blame. You should also tailor the discussion to your child's developmental level. For young kids, simple reassurance like "Mom and Dad both love you" is best. Older children can handle a bit more detail. Just take care not to bad-mouth your ex or overshare adult issues. Keeping communication open, honest, and focused on your child's needs is key. A custody lawyer can offer guidance on age-appropriate conversations.

Establish Routines With Your Attorney's Custody Schedule Tips

Consistency and predictability help children feel secure when life changes. As much as possible, try to keep your child's regular schedule, activities, rules, and responsibilities the same in both households post-divorce. Kids do best with structure. A custody lawyer can help establish an equitable custody schedule and parenting rules.

Don't Put Your Child in the Middle

Never use your child as a messenger between you and your ex. Don't pump your child for information about your ex's home. Additionally, don't share inappropriate adult details about the divorce that may upset or confuse your child. Keep your child out of adult issues completely. A neutral custody lawyer can help facilitate necessary communication with your ex.

Acknowledge Your Child's Feelings

Your child will likely feel sadness, anxiety, frustration, anger, and other difficult emotions around the divorce. Don't minimize these feelings. Let your child know it's normal and okay to have big feelings about this big change. Provide reassurance you still love them and will care for them. If needed, a custody lawyer can recommend a counselor to help your child process emotions.

Maintain Self-Care Within Your Lawyer's Custody Plan

Make sure your child maintains healthy routines around sleep, nutrition, exercise, and screen time during the divorce transition. Also, take care of your own physical and mental health. Children are acutely attuned to parents' stress and emotions. Modeling self-care and emotional stability helps shelter your child. A custody lawyer can factor each parent's health and parenting abilities into custody plans.

Create New Family Traditions Through Your Attorney's Guidance

Joint holiday celebrations may no longer work post-divorce. Instead, you can develop some new special traditions to build happy memories just for your child and your household. These new routines help normalize the family changes. A child custody lawyer can help establish holiday and vacation schedules fairly between households.

Plan Your Child's Future Using Your Attorney's Support

Your lawyer can provide some guidance in this matter. A divorce presents the chance to re-evaluate and make positive changes for your child's future well-being. With your child custody lawyer's help, take time to thoughtfully consider adjustments that could benefit your child down the road. For example, you may look at moving to a neighborhood with better schools or closer to family support. Or, perhaps pursuing new educational opportunities for your child like private school or special classes makes sense.

Set Healthy Boundaries Through Your Lawyer's Mediation Process

Co-parenting with an ex is challenging. Set clear boundaries regarding communication methods, visitation schedules, dividing child responsibilities, and financial contributions. Adhering to defined boundaries prevents confusion and conflict that could upset your child. A child custody lawyer serves as an impartial mediator to establish constructive boundaries.

Divorce is a difficult transition, but parents can take proactive steps to minimize disruption in their child's life. Maintaining routines, modeling self-care, being age-appropriately honest, and allowing space for emotions helps stabilize kids. Boundaries with exes and professional support bring clarity. Most importantly, constant reassurance of your unconditional parental love shelters your child through this challenge. According to IBISWorld, in the United States, there are roughly 57,270 family law, divorce lawyer, and attorney businesses. If you are going through a divorce, let us help you. Reach out to Ed Frizzell Law LLC today to schedule a consultation.