A marital breakup can easily impact all members of the family in New Jersey — from the parents to the children. However, children may find it particularly challenging to watch their parents split up and go their separate ways. Seeing a divorced parent start to date another person may only add salt to the wound in the mind of a child. In light of this, here are some tips for successfully navigating dating after divorce in New Jersey.
If a parent decides to start dating following the divorce, he or she may not want to show off his or her love interests to the children right away. This is particularly true if these love interests might not be serious, long-term ones. Instead, it is best to share a dating partner with the children only after some time has passed — for example, a year or two.
The reason for this is that children generally cannot process a marital breakup as rapidly as their parents can. Plus, children may be hopeful that their father and mother will remarry or reconcile which might make them less accepting of a parent’s new partner. The best move a parent can make in this situation is to talk one on one with the children to find out how they are feeling following the divorce and reassure them that both parents will continue to love them no matter what happens.
Going through divorce can feel like going through an emotional obstacle course, particularly when young children are going through the process, too. However, choosing to resolve divorce matters at the negotiation table or through mediation might help to prevent the conflict and stress that typically come with traditional divorce litigation. An attorney in New Jersey can guide a spouse through an alternative process to litigation with the goal of achieving the best outcome for the client.