Parents in Virginia and across the country are often willing to go to great lengths to protect their children. While some may even be willing to stay in an unhappy marriage, for many it becomes obvious that staying in a dysfunctional relationship is not in the best interest of anyone involved. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the stress that children feel as the family navigates through the divorce process.
For example, some parents who are invested in a low conflict divorce may choose an option known as “nesting.” For most families, this gives the children the ability to stay in the family home while their parents alternate who stays at the home with them. Often, the parents will share an apartment that each live in when they are not with the children. While some professionals with experience with children going through divorce agree that there are benefits to this arrangement, they caution that it is most effective when the arrangement is short-term.
For many people, “nesting” is not an option. However, there are other ways to help children through the transition, helping to reduce the amount of stress and conflict that they experience. Being upfront with children and allowing them to ask questions can help. Additionally, consistency between the two homes — including structure, routine, rules and consequences — is helpful. Keeping the child’s school the same can help reduce the amount of change in the child’s life, while avoiding fighting with the other parent in the presence of the child can be beneficial.
Most people would agree that a divorce is sometimes a difficult transition for all parties involved. However, there are measures that can be taken to ease the conflict and stress. Despite the potential conflict, most people who have ended their marriage in Virginia would likely agree that the decision was in the best interest of all involved.
