No one would ever describe divorce as a pleasant experience. Emotionally, it’s grueling. Financially, it can shatter you. It’s among the most stressful life experiences a person can go through.
For fathers, divorce can be especially difficult since they are more likely to get the short end of the stick in child custody decisions.
That said, despite all the hardships and inconveniences of co-parenting, there are some upsides to the divorced dad life.
There are some upsides to the divorced dad life. Click To TweetYou Make The Rules
You’re now the head of your household, so when your kids are with you they’ll be living by your rules.
Of course, an important part of successful co-parenting is coming to terms on some basic ground rules. You and your ex will want to agree on some important factors such as bed time, when the kids should do their homework, what they should be eating, etc. (After all, you don’t want them scarfing down junk food and staying up all night when they’re with their mom.) But for the most part, you are now the one calling the shots.
A Deeper Relationship With Your Kids
Depending on your custody arrangement, you might be spending significantly less time with your children. However, that doesn’t do anything to lessen your importance as a father. In fact, it’s more important than ever for you to find ways to empower your children following divorce.
Now that you are a divorced dad, throw yourself into your role as parent more than you ever did before. That means getting involved in their school and extra-curricular activities, but more than that it means emotionally engaging with them. Seeing their mom and dad breakup has likely caused them to feel a tsunami of scary and conflicting emotions. Talk to them about what they are feeling, what their fears are, and what you can do to help.
Divorce is a heartbreaking experience, but use this experience to forge a deeper and more supportive relationship with your kids than you ever had before.
Cordell & Cordell understands the concerns men face during divorce.
Time To Recharge
No father ever wants less time with his kids, but the reality of divorce is that you are going to have a lot more time to yourself. Maybe that isn’t ideal, but make the most of it.
When your children are with their mom, use that time to regroup and recharge. This break gives you a chance to focus on your own physical and mental well-being, which is crucial to take care of during divorce.
There are so many challenges that come with life as a divorced dad, but it is important to take a glass-half-full approach. If you look closely enough, there are some benefits even to some of the negative aspects of divorce. With the right mindset and attitude, you and your children can flourish despite your divorce.
If you are thinking about divorce, it’s a good idea to get in touch with a divorce attorney as soon as possible. They can help you weigh your options and figure out what you need to do in order to get your life back on track after divorce.
