It easy to get caught up in the emotions of a divorce and forget that your children have no say in the matter. They will be impacted, for better or worse, by the way you and your spouse handle yourselves during the divorce process.
Here are ten simple rules that will help keep your children out of the middle of your divorce:
- Don’t criticize or badmouth your spouse in front of the child.
- Don’t argue with your spouse while the children are present. Be careful not to argue during exchanges of the child.
- Do not discuss issues such as finances or details related to your divorce case in your child’s presence.
- Never use your children to deliver messages, money, or anything else to your former spouse.
- Do not use your children to spy on the other parent, or to tell you the details of what the other parent is doing, such as whom they are dating.
- Do not withhold visitation to punish your former spouse.
- Don’t tell the children that they can choose where they want to live.
- Assure the children that you and your former spouse still love them and that the separation between you and your spouse is not their fault.
- Assure your child that they will continue to see both parents on a regular basis, and will be well taken care of by both parents.
- Be on time and punctual regarding all visitation and exchanges.