If world events over the past couple of years have convinced you to end your marriage, you may be ready to start the next chapter of your life. Still, you are likely to have some complex emotions about your divorce. These may include anger, resentment, sadness and uncertainty.
Your divorce may take a similar toll on the emotional well-being of the young ones in your family. If you have teens, though, you can expect the end of your marriage to be harder on them than it is on their younger siblings.
A painful family change
According to Psychology Today, divorce forces kids to endure a painful family change. Fortunately, there are probably ways to help your children cope with divorce-related pain. Checking in regularly with the young members of your family may help you gauge their emotional health.
Hormonal changes in teens
You should keep particularly close tabs on your teens. After all, as they mature, teenagers go through a number of hormonal changes. These changes can make stressful events seem insurmountable. If your teen disengages, rebels or declines academically, he or she may be reacting to your divorce.
Professional help
To help your teen make it through your divorce, you may want to seek cooperation from your soon-to-be ex-spouse. If the two of you can present a united front, the adolescent in your family may feel better. Still, you may not be able to tackle the problem entirely on your own.
Ultimately, if your teen is experiencing emotional turmoil, it may be advisable to arrange a meeting with a family counselor or divorce therapist.