Divorce is hard on the entire family. The process can be especially damaging to children involved. While you may be trying to cope with personal challenges throughout the divorce, it is important for both parents to realize that your children may also be suffering. Helping your children heal from divorce should be your top priority. Here are several ways to help your children gain the tools and coping skills that will help them to thrive post-divorce.

Discuss the divorce with your children. Let your children know that they are not at fault and bear no blame for what has happened. Encourage them to ask questions and be prepared to answer those questions. Taking the time to have discussions with your children gives them a chance to voice their concerns and fears. It also provides you an opportunity to give them some much needed support and certainty.

Listen to your children. Encourage your children to talk to you. Your children may try to hide their feelings but reassure them that it is okay to feel the way they do. Make sure they know that there is nothing they can say that will change the way you feel about them or how much you love them. They should be able to tell you anything, even if it hurts.

Get into a new routine. Children thrive on routine and knowing what to expect. Set a new routine, be consistent, and follow-through. If possible, have a similar routine at the other parent’s home. This makes going back and forth a little easier. We recently wrote a post about how to help your child successfully transition between homes.

Find a way to get along with your ex-spouse, for the sake of your children. You need to be civil with your ex when dealing with your children. Do not argue in front of them. Do not speak ill of one another. Discuss your children in a polite and professional manner. It is hard to set feelings aside, but understand that it is very important for your children to see you dealing with the divorce in the best possible light.  You never want to behave in a manner that puts your children in the middle.

Parents want their children to emerge from divorce well-adjusted and happy, but this doesn’t happen by accident. Conscientious parenting and helping your children heal after a divorce should be a top priority as you move through the process. The expertise and experience of family law attorney Linda Sorg Ostovitz will help you sort through the complex legal and financial issues during this difficult time, so you can focus on family and healing.

If you are considering divorce and need the assistance of an experienced lawyer to help you work through some of these issues, then please contact Linda Sorg Ostovitz at lostovitz@offitkurman.com or 301-575-0381.

ABOUT LINDA SORG OSTOVITZ

Linda Sorg Ostovitz is a family law attorney. Her legal experience spans more than 34 years. In this time, she has served as a leader, educator and advocate. Mrs. Ostovitz holds a prestigious fellowship in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Currently, she serves as President for the Business Women’s Network of Howard County, by which she was chosen Woman of Distinction for 2014. Mrs. Ostovitz represents clients in Howard, Anne Arundel, Carroll and Baltimore Counties. Her practice focuses exclusively on divorce litigation and mediation, child custody and access, child support, alimony, business valuation, as well as property and asset distribution. In addition to providing legal representation in court, Mrs. Ostovitz provides mediation services to help families come to a fair and legally-sound conclusion outside of the traditional court proceedings.

ABOUT OFFIT KURMAN

Offit Kurman is one of the fastest-growing, full-service law firms in the Mid-Atlantic region. With over 135 attorneys offering a comprehensive range of services in virtually every legal category, the firm is well positioned to meet the needs of dynamic businesses and the people who own and operate them. Our eleven offices serve individual and corporate clients in the Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York City. At Offit Kurman, we are our clients’ most trusted legal advisors, professionals who help maximize and protect business value and personal wealth. In every interaction, we consistently maintain our clients’ confidence by remaining focused on furthering their objectives and achieving their goals in an efficient manner. Trust, knowledge, confidence—in a partner, that’s perfect.

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