3 Tips for Helping Children Get Used to Your New Partner After Divorce
Posted on March 13, 2020 in Divorce
It is difficult enough for your child to deal with his or her parents’ divorce, but adjusting to your new romantic partner can add additional stress. This can complicate things further and make the post-divorce transition more challenging for everyone involved. In these cases, it is a good idea to make plans for how you will help your children get acclimated to your new significant other. By keeping your children’s best interests in mind, you can help them accept your new partner and ensure that your family is prepared for success in the years to come.
Ways to Help Your Children Get Comfortable With Your New Partner
Your new partner will likely want to be a part of your kids’ lives and help you out with parenting duties where they can. You can help ease them into this new role in the following ways:
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Choose the right place for introductions—For initial meetings between you, your children, and your new romantic partner, none of you should be given preference in terms of the environment. If your children will be visiting your partner’s house, they will likely be anxious, and they may not respond well to the introduction. If they are at your house, they might want to gravitate toward the comforts of home, ignoring your new partner. If you choose a neutral place, this could help cultivate togetherness and empathy, the kind that builds stronger relationships.
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Pick the right activities—Whether you are spending time at home with your children, participating in activities in your community, or taking trips together, you will want to consider everyone’s interests and preferences. If your children feel like the activities you choose are geared toward you and/or your new partner, they may only participate begrudgingly rather than building the experiences and memories you want when first starting your new family dynamic. It might be a good idea to let children choose activities and find things that you know everyone can enjoy.
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Do not be too demonstrative around your new partner—It is often best if you and your new partner avoid showing too many overt displays of affection around your children, especially early in the relationship. Your kids might still be getting over the divorce, and seeing you show affection toward a different partner might make it more difficult for them to accept the new relationship. Keep things simple and platonic at first, and as the relationship between you, your new partner, and your children grows, it will be easier for them to be comfortable with you showing signs of love to that person.
Contact a DuPage County Divorce Lawyer
Integrating your new partner into your family life can be a thorny issue, and you should give careful deliberation to the decisions you make during this time. By considering your children’s best interests, you can help them accept your divorce and your family’s new situation. If you need help addressing divorce-related issues, contact our Wheaton, IL family law attorneys at 630-871-1002 for a free consultation. The compassionate team at Andrew Cores Family Law Group will help you move forward with your life.
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jul/28/how-to-introduce-your-children-to-a-new-partner
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/introducing-children-to-new-partner_uk_5e4e616ac5b6a7bfb4c15c5d
https://www.familyeducation.com/life/dating-after-divorce/involving-your-children-your-new-relationship
