Divorce is not an easy process. It’s been the subject of entire novels and hit songs. And when children are involved, divorce may be a challenging situation.
If you find yourself becoming overwhelmed, tell yourself that you are doing what is best for you and your family. Moving forward, do your best to plan ahead of time, identify potential warning signals, and be emotionally present to your children. That being said, let’s get started with some ways your child may express their concerns about separation.
They may isolate themselves.
You may notice that your social child has become shy, or with an increased level of anxiety. They’re probably thinking and feeling a lot right now. They may appear uninterested in, or even afraid of, social situations such as hanging out with friends or attending school functions.
Low self-image has been linked to both divorce and social retreat, so improving your child’s self-esteem and inner dialogue may help them be more social once more.
Their academics might suffer.
Children going through parents’ divorce may get lower grades and potentially drop out at a higher rate in comparison to their peers. These may be evident as early as age 6, although they may become more noticeable as children reach their teenage ages.
There are various plausible explanations for this association, including the fact that children may feel neglected, unhappy, or preoccupied due to greater conflict between their parents. With time, a lack of interest in academics in high school may generally lead to a lack of interest in furthering their education.
They may choose sides.
Children experience both cognitive dissonance and allegiance conflict when their parents fight. This is just an “Einstein’s way” of saying they’re uncomfortable being caught in the middle, unsure whether to support one parent or the other.
This may manifest as a strong desire for “fairness,” even if it is detrimental to their own development. Increased stomachaches or headaches may also indicate discomfort in children.
As children grow older, the loyalty dilemma may become much more apparent, leading to a complete break in contact with one parent.
They suffer from depression.
While a child may initially feel lonely or sad due to the divorce, research shows that children who have experienced divorce are more likely to develop severe depression. Even more alarming, a small number of people are at an increased risk of suicide threats or attempts.
While these difficulties can affect children of any age, they are more prevalent in children aged 11 and up.
They participate in risky activities.
Alcohol and drug abuse, violent conduct, and early sexual involvement are additional possibilities. Teen girls, for example, have sex at an earlier age when their father is absent from the home, according to research.
Boys are not at the same risk as girls, although they are more likely to be involved in violence and street fights.
Contact Lamb, Carroll, Papp and Cunabaugh, P.C., Attorneys at Law today for legal help.