Helping Your Kids Thrive After a Divorce

Both parents will need to have school supplies, at their respective homes, and have time available to help, and be aware of assignments and deadlines. Just finding posterboard at the last minute can be a huge time waste for a child that only has one night or weekend to finish an assignment (project). This might not have been something that you handled before the divorce but now that you have a separate home and overnights for the child (children) it is something that you are going to have to handle and communicate with your ex as well as your children about. If the children are falling considerably behind where they were before the divorce it can have an effect on their self esteem and consequently personality. No child wants to fail at school because they can not get their homework done through no fault of their own. If the problem is the academics and you are simply unable to help, then see if you can afford to pay for a professional and talk with your ex about it and the child’s teacher(s) for recommendations. Also make certain that you applaud their successes.

Another similar issue is the extra curricular activities that your child attended before the divorce, and now their days (evenings) are split between their parents. You and your ex spouse are going to have to again focus on the fact that your children did not cause the divorce but are being affected by it and will undoubtedly resent you if you don’t take them to their activities. Extracurricular activities, be it sports, or music, or scouts is a way for your child to be with friends, and they are going to need to have that time. They are also going to want both parents to see them at their games, or other special events such as music concerts, school plays, etc., and so you are going to have to acknowledge this and behave properly at the time.

Of course they are also going to want to have time alone with each parent doing something special. This can happen simply by helping them put together a science project and thus accomplish two birds with one stone, spending special time with your child and helping them out with an academic project.

This is obviously just a few ideas of how to keep your children’s academic, and personal growth intact after the divorce, and you can probably think of others. Remember to focus on your children!!

Disclaimer: This blog is intended as general information and not as legal advice. Situations are different and may call for different remedies. To deal with a specific situation and make appropriate arrangements for representation and advice, call Kevin J. Waite or another attorney of your choice.