Boca Raton Divorce Attorney Eric N. Klein

Remarrying After Divorce: The Kids’ Perspective

Divorce is hard. Divorce with children is harder. Once children enter the picture, a whole new dimension is added to the already complex mass of relationships that have to be sorted out during divorce proceedings. Now, not only the couple’s emotional issues need to be sorted out but time and energy must be set aside to ensure that the children make it through the process as well.

Unfortunately, the struggle does not end once the divorce is finalized. There are still, most of the time, a lot of hurt feelings and an inability to understand the split once the divorce is final. The same hurt feelings exist in the children as well.

Remarriage and Children

When one parent decides to remarry, the children are likely to feel even more confused. For adults, remarriage can be a sign that the healing process is complete. It is an indication that the adult has matured, accepted the divorce, and moved on with his or her life. The same is not so for children.

When their parents re-marry, children frequently receive a number of conflicting messages. On one hand, the kids feel that they should be happy for their parent, but, on the other hand, this second relationship is like the final nail in the coffin that the parents are not going to get back together. This can be as traumatic as the divorce itself because so many children entertain dreams of their parents eventually getting back together. Having these dreams shattered is not an easy thing to deal with.

In addition to shattered dreams, the children have to adjust to having a stranger in the house all the time that also intends to take on some role in parenting. Is it any wonder the kids resist the transition or that there are so many “evil” step parents in stories?

Helping Children

Parents should be aware of all of the issues surrounding remarriages and should do everything possible to help their children adjust to the new life. How this is done depends, in part, on the ages of the children involved.

If you are considering a divorce and would like to know more about how to help your children adjust, contact the Boca Raton divorce attorneys of Eric N. Klein and Associates at 561-353-2000 to discuss your situation.