When parents in Illinois decide to divorce, they might be worried about how it will affect their children, but they can do several things to make the process less difficult for them. First, children need to feel reassured that they can still go on loving and having a relationship with both parents. Parents should also try to provide a neutral environment for the child to talk about the other parent.
It may be hard for parents to agree to do anything together, but if they can, it will help the children. This may be particularly true when it comes to holidays and other occasions, such as birthday parties. Rather than having two of each, if parents are able to spend these times together, children can enjoy being with their entire family at that time. Even if parents are unable to manage this, they should try to be consistent about rules between their households. This can help children adjust better.
Children should be reassured that the divorce is not their fault and that they did not do anything to cause the divorce. Overall, when dealing with their children, parents need to do their best to set aside their own differences and focus on what the children need.
Parents should also try to do this during the divorce process itself. They do not necessarily have to go to litigation; it is often possible for parents to reach an agreement about child custody outside of family law court, and their attorneys may be able to help them negotiate this agreement. Parents may agree to share custody, or one parent may have physical custody while the other parent has visitation rights. Those visitation rights can still be generous. Negotiating an agreement outside of court may allow parents to create a more flexible schedule that suits their individual situation.