Tips for Adjusting to Motherhood After Divorce
Adjusting to motherhood after divorce doesn’t have to be a challenge that breaks you, especially when you know you have the strength to take care of your family either way.
Going forward, you’ll have plenty of responsibilities on your plate, from working extra hours to paying more bills than you normally would. The good news is, with these quick tips, you can embrace and live well as a mother even after divorce.
1. Talk Confidently to Your Children About Divorce
Unfortunately, divorce can be painful, frustrating, time-consuming, and expensive. For a child living amid a divorce, there can be periods of confusion, resentment, guilt, and disappointment. Therefore, it’s critical that you’re patient in communicating with your child, giving them space to share their feelings when they’re ready, and not being overly judgemental when they do.
When a mother is in the midst of a complicated split or divorce, it is essential to have an experienced child custody lawyer to help guide their legal process. Not only can a child custody lawyer provide sound advice on parental decisions and child support, but they can also be a vital resource for discussing difficult topics such as the reasons for divorce with children.
With sensitivity and expertise, child custody lawyers can give mothers the tools and confidence necessary to explain what is happening in a way that is appropriate for each child’s age and maturity level.
In just over 51% of custody decisions, both parents agree that the mother should become the custodial parent.
Still, as a mother, you should trust that your child will need to process what’s happening their own way and that their initial reactions might be contrary to what you’d assume.
Either way, you’ll see that it’s in your best interests to talk confidently and share stories about your own experiences that reflect the values that you want your child to learn during this hardship. After all, a hurting or broken family can’t repair itself without your input.
2. Pursue Self-Improvement Goals Related to Your Career
Throughout your marriage, you may have take the time to further your education and strengthen your resume. You also were likely faced with extraordinary challenges prior to divorce, some of which forced you to question your resolve and willpower.
On one hand, the time may come when you can learn a new skill and do so in a way that earns you a promotion, raises, or transfer to a city with a better environment for your kids.
On the other hand, you have to trust that you’re making the best choices while also squeezing in time to make yourself better. Start with self-improvement goals you haven’t yet accomplished or credentials that can be used to acquire a unique edge over the competition.
With two-thirds of managers saying employees who work remotely increase their overall productivity, you may consider trying out this option with your current job. This way, you can spend more time home improving yourself, with your kids, exercising, and eating well out of your own kitchen each day.
3. Manage Your Time, All the Time
You won’t have as much time now to do what you want unless you’re lucky. After a divorce, you may still have some family matters to attend to regarding the direction you want your household to take now that your ex-spouse is out of the picture.
The best way to stay on top of that is to manage your time efficiently by approaching tasks with greater priority first and taking breaks during tasks so that you have the energy to keep going.
So long as you have the ability to meet work-related deadlines and be there for your kids at the same time, you’ll be okay. Just don’t get into the habit of not attending to medical concerns.
About two to three out of every 1,000 children in the United States are born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears. Whether your child is suffering from an ear infection or a common cold, manage your time so you can be there for them first.
Both you and your children’s health and well-being must take priority over everything else!
Adjusting to motherhood after divorce is tough. Your job is to make it easy so you can focus on your life and maintain the best for your children. Start today by learning to manage your time. Then, you can build upon existing career pursuits so you can have a better future later. As long as you can accept everything will be fine, you and your family can still enjoy life after a divorce.
