No relationship is perfect. We all go through stresses and strains. In some cases, we make it out of the other side, and our relationship is stronger than ever. In other instances, we decide that it is best to part ways. No matter what avenue you go down, while you are still figuring it out and still in the midst of conflict, it is important to make sure that this does not pass onto your children. Kids are very aware of what is going on around them, and so you need to make a dedicated effort to hide your relationship troubles from your children. So, let’s take a look at how to do this…
Don’t talk negatively about one and other – There is only one place to begin, and this is by having the self control to make sure you do not vent your frustrations in front of your child. Yes, you are angry. Yes, you want to tell someone how much your partner is driving you crazy. However, your child should not be the one to hear this. It will make them feel scared and conflicted. You need to have respect for one and other and you need to remember that your partner is still your child’s parent, so you should not try to discredit them.
Don’t argue about how to parent your child in front of him or her – This is another mistake a lot of parents end up doing when they are at war with one and other. If you do this, it will disturb your child’s sense of security and safety. This is especially the case if you have already escalated the situation and started seeing family law solicitors. If this is the case, it is more important than ever to make sure that your child still feels like there is a sense of unity and some stability in his or her life. It is not healthy for your little one to experience toxic communication patterns that happen due to a lack of self-discipline.
Don’t make your child feel guilty for enjoying being with the other parent – Last but not least, you may be horrified reading this… of course, you would never want to make your child feel guilty about anything. However, in the heat of the moment, these rational thoughts can go flying out of the window. You need to make sure that your child feels comfortable no matter who they are spending time with. They need love, security, and assurance from both parents. It is not a competition.
As you can see, there are a number of different ways that you can make sure your children do not clock onto the fact that you are experiencing relationship troubles. If you follow the steps that have been presented above, you can go a long way to shielding what is going on. Remember, it does not matter how much you both feel like you hate one and other at the moment, your child should always come first.