During and after the separation process, adolescents are more likely to use and abuse substances, act out, and display behavioral problems. They may show increased irritability and aggressiveness. They may experience lower self-esteem and wellbeing and often have trouble at school – academically and with peers.
Coping With Divorce as a TeenagerIt's Not Your Fault and It Never Was. ... You're Not Their Messenger. ... Validate Your Emotions, Don't Suppress Them. ... Find New Ways of Dealing With Stress. ... Communicate With Your Parents. ... Talk to Your Close Friends. ... Consider Talking to an Expert. ... Understand That Your Experiences and Feelings Are Valid.More items...•
They appear to be uniformly surprised to learn that a minor child does not have the legal right to decide which parent to live with. Depending on the jurisdiction in which you live, the age of your child may matter only in terms of the weight a judge might give to a child's preference, should he or she have one.
7 Tips for Telling Your Teenager You're Getting a DivorcePick the right time. ... You both need to be there. ... Be honest. ... Reassure them. ... Give them the facts. ... Don't point fingers. ... Validate your child's feelings.
Elementary school age (6–12) This is arguably the toughest age for children to deal with the separation or divorce of their parents.
Parenting the average teen can be challenging even during the best of times. But it may feel even trickier during and after divorce or separation. If you've recently gone through a divorce or separation, learning what to expect from your teen and how to respond will be of tremendous help.
Age 18Legally, Your Child Can Refuse Visitation at Age 18 When your child reaches 18, he or she is an adult. Adults can decide who they spend time with. You will not be able to force your child to continue to see you. A family law court will no longer be able to enforce any possession or visitation clauses over an adult.
If your child now wants to live with you, there are specific steps to make that happen. In order to change an existing custody or visitation order, you will need to return to court. You will need to file a petition seeking to modify the current order based on a substantial change in circumstances.
18 years oldAs you may know, the age of majority is 18 years old; after that age and beyond, a child has full legal right to make the decisions that affect him or her.
Give them as much information as you can about how your divorce will affect their lives and schedule. Be open to answering any questions that your teens might have about your divorce, but don't get into specifics that might hurt their feelings or make them even more upset.
Adolescents may become less involved with school, responsibilities, and other activities. Grades will often drop and you may notice a marked increase in truancy. The teen may increase dangerous or self-abusive behavior such as binge drinking, using drugs, and sexual promiscuity.
5 Things to Say to a Child Whose Parents Are Getting a Divorce#1: That stinks! I am so sorry that you have to go through this. ... #2: I'm here for you. ... #3: It's not your fault. ... #4: Things will never be same, but the pain and sadness will eventually lessen. ... #5: God still loves you and your family.