Children who are in the middle of their parents’ divorce are suddenly thrown into a life where they have to learn how to live in two homes instead of the one they’ve always know. This can be a challenging time for them, partly because they have to become accustomed to the new logistics, but also because they have to learn how to cope with the emotional challenges.
Transition days are often one of the most challenging times for children. They have to go through the emotions of leaving one parent while they’re experiencing the joy of getting to spend time with the parent they’ve been missing. It’s up to their parents to find ways to make these days as calm as possible.
Prepare the children ahead of time
Children usually feel better about changes when they know they’re coming. Younger children may need help keeping track of when they’ll move from one home to the other. Older children may be able to keep track of this on their own. It may be beneficial if you and your ex have a countdown to when they’ll switch parents again.
Keep tense talk away from the children
Transition days aren’t a good time for parents to discuss contentious matters. Instead, the time when the children move from one parent to the other should be calm and stress free. Anything that needs to be discussed can be talked about when the children aren’t present.
It’s sometimes possible to reduce the tension in these situations by having a solid parenting plan in place. Making this as early in the process as possible can benefit the adults and children alike. It’s usually best to have someone familiar with these matters to assist with getting the plan set up in the best interests of the children.
