How Can I Improve Communication With My Spouse During Our Divorce?

 Posted on July 14, 2020 in Divorce

There are dozens of reasons why couples get divorced. Perhaps it was due to infidelity, which broke the trust they had built over many years. In other situations, one spouse may have simply decided that he or she was no longer content and did not want to be tied down. Whatever the reason, many divorcing couples share a similar trait -- poor communication with one another. While it may seem counterintuitive to want to improve communication with your soon-to-be ex-spouse, this can actually benefit you and your entire family in the long run by helping to keep things calm and less contentious. Below are a few things you can do to easily keep the lines of communication open with your spouse during your Illinois divorce.

Do Not Fight Over Everything

It has often been said that you should pick and choose your battles, and that can be true when it comes to divorce. If your spouse is known to bring up certain issues just to get a rise out of you, ignore these comments to avoid becoming agitated. Keep your focus on the issues that are most important to you and work on negotiating, rather than arguing about them.

Set Your Emotions Aside

Putting your feelings on the backburner is easier said than done. Divorce is very much an emotionally fueled event that is often the end of a multi-year, if not multi-decade relationship. It is only natural that you will feel some very strong emotions, ranging from sadness and depression to anger and rage. It is important that you do not let these emotions take over, as emotional actions and conversations tend to be rash ones.

Be Willing to Listen and Cooperate

Part of being a good communicator is being able to listen. This can be especially challenging during a divorce if you do not want to hear what your spouse has to say. However, if you want to improve your communication with your spouse, you should first be willing to listen to what he or she has to say and be prepared to work together to find a solution that works for both of you.

Consider Hiring a Mediator

If you and your spouse are particularly nasty to one another, you may want to consider hiring a mediator to guide you throughout the divorce proceedings. A mediator is an uninterested third party who would be able to facilitate discussions about various divorce topics and help keep you and your spouse on track if the conversation were to veer toward arguments.

Contact a Geneva Divorce Attorney

Divorce can be difficult for everyone involved, but the one aspect that always makes things worse is when the divorce is riddled with tension and arguments. At the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., we understand that you and your spouse are not always going to agree with one another when it comes to issues concerning your divorce. Our compassionate Kane County divorce lawyer will help encourage healthy communication between you and your spouse to facilitate a minimally stressful divorce. To schedule a consultation, call our office today at 630-409-8184.

Sources:

https://www.marriage.com/advice/divorce/tips-on-communicating-during-a-divorce/

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/parenting-family/co-parenting-tips-for-divorced-parents.htm