How Do You Help Children Through Divorce?
• Be aware that your child might be self-blaming. Because younger children often view situations only from their own perspective, they assume that if it their fault when their parents divorce. Reassure them that they are not to blame and that they are still loved and lovable. • Alleviate their worries. Children’s biggest fear regarding divorce is what will happen to them, and therefore it is important to reassure them all the time that they will not be abandoned by their parents – even though the parents leave each other. • Don’t force children to take sides. Children always feel a deep loyalty towards both parents, regardless of the circumstances – and therefore they fear that they will have to take sides. This fear can become a heavy burden for them. When one of the parents abandoned the child, it is important to assure the child that he did nothing wrong to cause the parent to leave, and that grownups sometimes make wrong choices because they cannot relate to other people. • Remembe
