Five Ways to Make Certain your Teenager Copes Well with the Divorce
Divorce can be especially rough on teenagers. But you can help your teen through the experience, with a little extra time and attention. Here’s how.
1. Reassure them.
It’s OK for your teen to be relieved, rather than upset, that his parents are breaking up, especially of they have been unhappy for a long time.
2. They’re not the problem.
Help your teens understand that they weren’t the cause of the break-up.
3. Don’t take sides.
Don’t force your teen to choose sides between his mother and his father. This expectation is not fair to them.
4. Cope with the stress.
If you notice that your teen is stressed — withdrawn, eating too much or not enough, for example — help them find ways to deal with the tension. Spend time together. Join your teen in some type of exercise or take on some activity together that will take his or her mind away from the stress. This can also be an opportunity to bond during a difficult time in both your lives.
5. Roll with it.
Help your teenager understand that problems in the future are a possibility. It’s part of life. Help her deal with them as they arise.
