When people in Minnesota talk about divorce, they typically focus on the emotional toll that it takes on the adults involved. But divorce can also be a stressful and emotional time for the children. This might seem surprising, since the children aren’t the ones dealing with a lengthy court battle. But divorce can affect them in a number of ways.
How can divorce affect a child’s mental health?
When their parents go through a divorce, many young children blame themselves. They worried that they caused the divorce by being “bad” or somehow made their parents stop loving each other. They might also fear that their parents might stop loving them. After all, if their parents stopped loving each other, what’s stopping them from doing the same to their children?
Older children often feel angry about the divorce. They might blame one parent or feel like the parents should have done more to save their marriage. They might also be angry at their parents for causing this massive life upheaval while they’re also going through high school and puberty. As a result, their relationship with their parents can become strained.
Many children are also stressed because of the changes that they have to face. They might be forced to move to a new house, go to a new school or relocate to another state altogether. And worse yet, they’re no longer seeing both of their parents everyday. This can make children feel stressed, depressed and isolated.
Where can you find legal assistance during a divorce?
Hiring an attorney may make the divorce process easier for both you and your children. An attorney might help you negotiate a child custody agreement with your former spouse and act in your child’s best interests. They can also help you deal with other matters like property division.