Even though divorcing your soon-to-be ex-spouse might be the right decision for everyone in your family, you should not expect the end of your marriage to be easy on anyone. Indeed, according to Psychology Today, divorce can be damaging to the emotional well-being of both adults and kids.
You probably do not want to ask your children to white-knuckle their way through your divorce. You also do not want to risk potentially causing them long-term harm. Simply put, if your kids are not coping well with your divorce, it may be prudent to enroll them in therapy.
It can be difficult to be a parent, particularly because children pick up and set aside interests all the time. Still, if your kids withdraw from social activities or hobbies that normally bring them pleasure, they might need a professional to help them work through their divorce-associated feelings. This is especially true if withdrawal persists for more than a few weeks.
Some children lean more heavily on their parents than others. Nevertheless, if your kids never want to leave your or your soon-to-be ex’s side, they may be worrying too much about the breakup of your marriage. That is, they might feel insecure about both their current circumstances and their futures.
It is not uncommon for children to experience declines in academic performance or behavior during their parents’ divorce. If your kids skip school, bully other children, experiment with alcohol or drugs or engage in other alarming behaviors, a family therapist may be able to give you some tools to help them get back on track.
Ultimately, because helping your children manage their emotions may be beyond your skillset, there is no shame in asking an experienced family counselor for assistance.