Dear Mr. Dad: I’m in the process of getting a divorce and everyone’s telling me about how horrible divorce is for kids. Apparently, they have all sorts of behavioral problems, do worse in school, abuse drugs, are depressed and anxious, and on and on. I’m petrified and worried that no matter what I do, my kids are doomed. I want to be an amazing dad and give my kids the best possible life. Is there any way to avoid what sounds like a horror story waiting to happen?
A: I wish there was some way to get the media to quit portraying children in divorced families as self-destructive, anti-social failure-bombs waiting to explode. The reality is that kids whose parents have split (whether by divorce or the breakup of a never-married couple), can do just as well as any other kids. There are definitely obstacles, but they can be overcome. Here are a few ideas that will help.
Don’t believe everything you read (except this, of course). Some studies do show that kids from divorced homes have many of the problems you mentioned. But in most cases, those problems are less the result of the divorce than of the quality of the parenting those kids are getting. I’m sure you’ve heard of (or maybe even know) kids who have every conceivable advantage in life but never live up to their potential or end up in jail.
Keep your relationship with your ex civil. According to most reliable experts, the number one predictor of how well children will do after their parents get divorced is the quality of the relationship between the parents. Study after study confirms this. If you and your ex can get along, not fight in front of your children, treat each other with respect, recognize how important you both are in your children’s lives, and support each other in parenting, your kids have a great shot.
Love the kids — and reassure them often. Children, especially young ones, are concerned with only one idea: How will whatever’s going on right now affect me? If you or their mother moved out, they might be worried that the other will move out too and leave them alone. If they saw you and their mom fighting, they may worry that you’ll divorce them if they ever disagree with you. Your kids need to know that you love them no matter what. And that divorcing their mother has nothing to do with your relationship with them. Children also frequently believe that they caused the divorce. They need to know that the decision to divorce was made 100% by the adults and that the children had absolutely nothing to do with it.
Stop trying to be amazing (or awesome, perfect, fantastic, or even great). Shoot for “good enough.” You’re mortal, you’ll make mistakes, you’ll have personal issues, and that’s OK.
Ask for help — and accept it. It doesn’t have to take a whole village — sometimes all you need is a good support network. Having a friend or relative pick up the kids after school if you’re hung up at a meeting, or carpooling with another family can take the pressure off you and show the kids that there are other adults who care for them.
Keep it real. Spending time with you isn’t a vacation — you don’t need to buy your kids’ love. That means homework gets done before play, boundaries get respected, rules get followed and life stays as close to the way it was before the divorce.
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