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Challenge: Life Changes

How To Be There For Your Kids And Yourselves During Divorce

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Divorce happens in 40 to 50% of marriages, causing a lot of parents to pick up the pieces and figure out how to raise their families apart from each other.

When this happens to you, it's important to figure out how you and your spouse can have a heart to heart in order to be the best parents you can be, while going through your divorce, there are some things you can do that will strengthen your family so that you can make it through this storm.

Below you'll see some steps you can take so that your divorce is a moment, and not the entire story of your family's lives. Follow these tips the best that you can so that you can work to communicate and move forward.

Learn How To Improve Communication and Come to Understandings

If you want to be certain that you're able to have growth coming out of your divorce, it's important to learn ways to communicate.

Since divorce comes about due to conflict, you need to work toward coming to serious understandings. Listen without trying to get your point across, and you'll see that you and your spouse will be better able to build and keep a rapport.

Going to spousal counseling can be a great idea, so the two of you can either have peace going forward with your divorce, or even decide that divorce isn't what you want. Relationship counseling can cost you between $120 per hour and $250 per hour.

Regardless of where you end up after counseling, you'll be a stronger and better person from it as you move forward.

Figure out Where You Stand Legally

It's vital that you get the help of lawyers that can look out for you. If you and your spouse want the quickest and most convenient form of divorce, it's important that you hire an attorney that can mediate.

With mediation, you'll agree on a separation agreement and divorce settlement. If you didn't sign a prenup or postnup, the variables of your divorce might take a lot more detail to sort out.

You'll want to make sure that your legal matters are sorted out so that they don't spill over into the household. Be sure to remain open with your children about the divorce so that they're aware, but keep them away from these sorts of details.

Always look to come to some sort of resolution with your spouse as you split up, so that you're able to show up in your children's lives without outside stress getting in the way.

Forge Better and More Honest Relationships With Your Kids

Finally, make sure that everything you do moving forward brings you closer to your children.

Rather than just putting parenthood on auto-pilot, recognize that raising your children without living in the same household will come with its own set of challenges. Be there for your kids so that they can make sense of everything and know that they're loved.

Be prepared to allow them to vent, and do everything that you can to strengthen your personal relationship every step of the way.

If you follow these tips, you'll be able to make it through divorce while still empowering your family.

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