Kids struggle with change. During a divorce, they face a lot of it. Their home life is changing. Their parents' relationship is changing. They may have to switch to a new school. They may move to a new house or, if their parents share custody, to two new homes.
It's a lot for them to deal with all at once. If you think that divorce is tough on adults, remember that at least you got to decide to get divorced. The children feel like this all just happened to them. To really put them first during every step in the process, you need to know how to help them adjust. Here are some tips to help them move to the new house:
- Try to make it feel exciting. Tell them about the benefits of the new house or the upsides to moving.
- Do it in stages. Don't just move one day and then never return to the old house. Take them to see the new home after you buy it, for instance, or even as you look at your different options.
- Focus on making the new house feel like the old one, at least for the kids. This may mean moving their rooms and their items before your own.
- Spend as much time getting adjusted to the new area as you can before you move. Take walks around the neighborhood. Go visit the new school. Meet the new teachers. Take them into town and go to a park or some other attraction.
These tips can help, but divorce still gets complicated. Make sure you know what legal rights you have as a parent and how you can put your kids first.
