Sailing Troubled Seas: How to Navigate Divorce as a Family
Sailing Troubled Seas: How to Navigate Divorce as a Family
Divorce doesn’t have to be the colossal monster that it is often made out to be. Divorce is usually seen as the great hammer which quickly shatters families or the stealthy poison that slowly withers families. It may be difficult to believe, but divorce doesn’t need to be any of these things. Navigating the troubled waters of divorce as a family unit as opposed to wind-swept individuals can make a world of a difference in the way both parents and children see optimistically into the future.
Being Honest
Perhaps the biggest, and the simplest, task at hand is to be honest. When working through a divorce, honesty is not often used as a tactic to bring together spouses or families. Instead, honesty can be used as a weapon to drive the wedge even deeper. Don’t use honesty as a way to crack a spouse metaphorically over the head. Rather, engage in honesty as a tool to extrapolate the meanings behind the failed relationship and how it would genuinely be best to proceed forward. Having honesty be the primary method behind communication not only spouse-to-spouse but parent-to-child can and will assist in clearing up confusions and miscommunications inside of a family unit, and perhaps bring calm to chaos.
Do Things Together
It might be difficult, but when it comes to families and divorces, difficulty is the name of the game anyway. Regardless of the situation, seek out opportunities to spend time together as a family. This does not mean spouses need to interact as though they are still involved in a relationship they no longer care to have. A clear distinction must be made between the previous relationship and the new, but that distinction does not need to be a hostile one. Do family activities together to help keep your family closely knitted and functioning with safety and security.
Make Equitable Solutions
Know what you need and don’t be hungry for more. Difficult decisions must be made in the division of property as well as the division of time regarding children. Be aware and open, and be ready to make fair and honest conclusions about what should be done.
When a divorce involves a family, the divorce no longer has the option to be a battle shared by two people alone. The well-being of the family must be considered before all, and with each family member remaining open, unified, and fair, chances are the transition will be far smoother than you could ever imagine. It’s not impossible to navigate the seas of a divorce and come out into the sun on the other side.
