Communication is Key: Strategies for Divorcing Couples and Their Families

Divorce is always a difficult time for families, and communication is crucial for making sure that everyone, especially the children, are doing all right. It can be tempting to withdraw and try to deal with everything on your own, but that can make things worse. Here are some tips for keeping the lines of communication open among families during a divorce.

 

Good Communication Starts With You

 

Children are highly intuitive and can sense when something is amiss between their parents. Because of this, it’s important to keep communication open with your children during a divorce, and to try to maintain some sense of stability and normalcy for them. If your children are very young, they may not understand what's happening, and they may be feeling scared or confused. If you can talk openly with them about what's going on, it will help them feel better and cope with the situation. 

 

Don’t Make Your Children Choose Sides

 

Children of divorcing spouses may feel like they are caught in the middle, or that they have to choose between their parents. Explain what is happening in age-appropriate terms, and let them know that they are not responsible for the divorce. Reassure them that both parents still love them, and encourage them to express their feelings openly. Most importantly, don't use your children as messengers or spies - this will only damage your relationship with them in the long run.

 

Cooperation is Key

 

Regardless of how you and your ex-spouse might currently feel about one another, it is important to try to work together for the sake of your children. Try to make joint decisions about things like child-rearing and holiday schedules, and cooperate on coparenting as much as possible. 

 

Reach Out for Support

 

It’s always a good idea to look to other family members and friends for support during your divorce. They can provide a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on when needed. Talking to your family and friends can help you work through your feelings and figure out what to do next. If you are unable or unwilling to talk about your feelings with those closest to you, it might be a good idea to seek outside help from a therapist who specializes in divorce, or even keep a journal to jot down your thoughts and feelings from one day to the next. You’d be surprised how much it can help to express your emotions in a healthy way!

 

Choosing to file for a Denver uncontested divorce doesn’t have to be the end of your family; on the contrary, it can be a bright new beginning of a new chapter for all of you. By keeping the lines of communication open between you, your ex-spouse and your children, you can create a new family picture that still contains the thing that matters most to your kids—love.