Adult Children Also Feel the Effects of Divorce

 Posted on December 26, 2018 in Family Law

Many people think that divorce only affects children when they are young and still living at home. In reality, it is difficult for children of any age to hear that their parents are getting a divorce. Adult children whose parents are getting a divorce also feel a sense of loss and sadness.

Typically those who have adult children have been married for years, and these kinds of divorces can be the most difficult because they have more history. It is important to remember that your children -- even if they are adults -- also need the love and support that would be given to younger children. Here are a few ways you can help your adult children deal with a divorce:

Wait until the Whole Family Is Together

Timing is everything and telling your adult children about your divorce is no exception to the rule. It is usually advisable to tell all children at the same time about the divorce. Schedule a family gathering during a time that works for everyone to break the news. The last thing you want is for one child to hear about the news from another child.

Acknowledge Their Feelings

The main issue with adult children whose parents are divorcing is that their feelings about the divorce are often overlooked or unacknowledged. Even though they are adults, they can still be sensitive to situations like this. Many times, adult children whose parents are divorcing have children of their own. The divorce of their parents can symbolize to them the loss of their first family.

Remind Them They are Still Loved

It is important to remind children of any age that they are loved and will always be loved, even if their parents are divorced. Even if your adults are grown, they are still your children and they should always be your number one priority. They will always need your love and support, and you should allow them to grieve the loss, just like you are.

Contact a DuPage County Divorce Lawyer to Help You Finalize Your Divorce

At the Law Office of Martoccio & Martoccio, we understand that a divorce later in life is hard on the entire family. Our highly-trained Hinsdale, IL divorce lawyers can help you throughout your divorce, from start to finish. Contact our firm today to learn more about what we can do for you. Call our office at 630-920-8855 to set up a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/24/fashion/weddings/never-too-old-to-hurt-from-parents-divorce.html

https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-adult-children-of-divorce-find-their-voice