Many Colorado fathers will be among those throughout the nation who divorce this year. Whether a dad has one child or several, when a marriage ends, it impacts everyone in the family, especially the kids. If you’re one of these Colorado fathers, you’ll be glad to know there are strong support systems already in place to help families like yours cope with divorce and move on in life in as healthy a manner as possible.
Divorced dads should keep several issues in mind. For instance, it’s good to know that the court typically believes that children fare better in divorce when they are able to maintain a sense of normalcy, structure and routine. In addition, your parent/child relationships may strengthen if you put forth a concentrated effort to spend a lot of time at home with your kids. If you don’t have custody, you’ll still want to reside a close distance from them, if possible.
Other issues to help your kids come to terms with their changed lifestyle
There is no one set way to help your children cope with divorce and handle their emotions as they adapt to new circumstances, and maybe even new surroundings. The following list shows how to make the most of your custody arrangement and where to seek support if a problem arises:
- Cooperate and compromise as much as you can. When your kids witness your willingness to amicably communicate with their other parent for their sakes, it’s a win/win situation.
- Let your children know they are your highest priorities in life. Let them know their feelings matter to you and that you are there to support them at all times.
- Take an active role in parenting. If you have visitation, avoid making your visit days seem like grand events.
- Build strong bonds with your kids and be involved in their day-to-day lives.
- Take advantage of advanced technology to stay in close contact with your kids, especially if you have to travel without them. You can use apps like FaceTime or Skype to enjoy virtual visits when you can’t be together in person.
If you and your ex are usually able to discuss problems as they arise to come up with agreeable solutions, you’re a step ahead of the game and can be proud of your achievements. However, even if you feel ill equipped to handle such situations, whether due to poor communication between you and your former spouse or some other reason, there’s no shame in reaching out for support. Many Colorado parents have faced similar problems in the past and with experienced advocates on their sides, have been successful in finding solutions.