By Rosalind Sedacca

I recently came upon this quote from British blogger, David Bly: “Your children will become what you are; so be what you want them to be.” Basically that’s the best advice anyone can give any parent. It’s especially relevant when faced with challenging times, such as your divorce.

It’s estimated that 40% of our children will experience the divorce of their parents. The outcome is not the same for all children or all families. That’s why it’s so important for parents facing divorce to understand that every decision you make has consequences that affect your children as well as your own well-being for years and decades to come.

As a Divorce & Parenting Coach I’ve found that many parents are short-sighted when it comes to understanding the effects of divorce on their children. They don’t understand that emotional wounds in childhood lead to behaviors in the teen years and decisions in adult-hood that were based on several factors related to the divorce.

  • Lack of power: Did they feel helpless – a victim of the divorce that made them mistrust their parents, adults and life in general?
  • Lack of respect: Did they feel unheard, dismissed or unimportant as waves of changes took place in their life without anyone sincerely caring or attending to  their feelings or needs?
  • Lack of acknowledgment: Did they speak out to share their fears, anger, hurt, guilt or frustration only to find no one heard, and more importantly, no one validated their feelings and anxiety?

As parents we can’t always fix life to give our children what they want, especially when divorce is transforming their lives. But we can be sensitive to our children’s reality and acknowledge that what they’re feeling and experiencing truly matters.

We can address issues they bring up or ones we know are creating pain for them with age-appropriate answers and compassion for their plight. They didn’t ask for this, nor are they responsible for the complexities of adult marital problems.

You don’t want to turn your children into confidants, friends or therapists while you’re going through this challenging transition. But you do want to encourage them to share their feelings, voice their opinions and let you know what it’s like for them to be affected by your divorce.

Sometimes making a counselor available to them really helps so they can vent to another adult without fear of consequences. Sometimes letting them talk to their grandparents, a teacher or a friend’s parent can make a positive difference. At all times let them know you’re there for them, want to hear what they have to say, and won’t punish or reprimand them for contradicting your vision of life for your family in the months and years ahead.

Remember, you’re not alone. There are so many valuable resources available to you and your children in your community, through local schools and churches, in therapist’s offices and extensively online.

I provide Divorce Coaching services internationally via phone or Skype. Contact me directly for more information at [email protected] or click the COACHING button at www.childcentereddivorce.com.

When divorce hits your family, take advantage of these resources to help you “be what you want your children to be.” Mature. Responsible. Compassionate. Forgiving. Resilient. Loving. And a role model they can be proud of.

P.S.: The clever cartoon above comes from a new book, Compassionate Cartoons About Divorce by Kelly Kamowski and Stephanie Piro. To access the book search for them on Amazon. To get rights to use any of their poignant, compassionate cartoons, contact them at: [email protected], www.kamowski.com or Facebook.com/PiroKamowski.

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Rosalind Sedacca, CDC is a Divorce & Parenting Coach, founder of the Child-Centered Divorce Network and author of How Do I Tell the Kids About the Divorce? A Create-a-Storybook Guide to Preparing Your Children — With Love! For her free ebook on Post-Divorce Parenting, free ezine, coaching services, programs and other valuable resources on divorce and parenting issues, go to: www.childcentereddivorce.com.

© Rosalind Sedacca   All rights reserved.