Should I Wait to File for a Divorce Until My Children Are Older?

 Posted on February 05, 2021 in Divorce

Divorce is a difficult subject, no matter your age. Whether you are 3 or 23, watching your parents go through a divorce can be a stressful experience. Many parents tough it out for years or even decades in unhappy marriages for this very reason, thinking they are saving their children from heartache if they wait to get divorced until they are older. Unfortunately, in many situations, staying together for the sake of the children actually tends to do more harm than good.

Negative Impact of Putting off the Inevitable

Even though it may seem as if it would be better for your children to grow up with both parents living in the household, the conflict between parents can be more detrimental than splitting time between parents. If you are contemplating getting a separation or divorce and you have children, here are a few of the long-term consequences that staying together for the kids can have:

• Damage to the parent-child relationship: In many situations, parents who stay in unhappy marriages tend to have less fulfilling relationships with their children. This is thought to be possibly due to a number of reasons, but the most likely culprit is simply that parents who are constantly at odds with one another have less energy and therefore less energy to devote to the children.

• Low self-esteem: Children tend to internalize things, especially things that are stressful or frightening. Raising a child in a home in which the parents are always arguing and causing stress can cause major behavioral issues in the future.

• Exposure to constant conflict and stress: In some studies, the level of cortisol increases, which is the stress hormone that increases in children when they are exposed to their parent’s conflict. This can lead to the children having trouble in their own future relationships.

Contact Our St. Charles Divorce Attorney Today

It is normal to want to hold onto the family and life that you have built with your spouse, but when that life starts to become a burden, it may be time to reevaluate your situation. After having a spouse to share your life with for so long, it can feel strange to be on your own, but in many cases, everyone is much happier after the divorce. At the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., we can help you with every aspect of your divorce, from property distribution to parenting time allocation. To schedule a private consultation with our skilled Kendall County divorce lawyer, call us today at 630-409-8184.

Sources:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/7-ways-you-can-damage-your-kids-by-staying-in-a-bad-marriage_n_573b4845e4b0646cbeeaf9a9

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/should-you-put-off-divorce-for-the-sake-of-the-children_b_59f9b74ce4b0de896d3f2cb5