Going through a divorce when you share children with your ex is a complex situation. If you’re the parent who moves out of the marital home, things can become much more complicated.
One thing that can increase the difficulty you’re facing is knowing that your children are having struggles with the changes they’re facing. You can make it a bit easier on them by helping them adjust to your home.
Let them participate in choosing the home
If it’s possible, consider letting the children participate in choosing where you will live. If they’re old enough, they can go with you to tour homes or apartments. Making them part of the process can help them to consider the house as their home.
Give them their own space in the home
Children should have their own space in your home. Ideally, your children will have a bedroom, but that’s not always possible. If they can’t have a full bedroom to themselves, provide them with somewhere that they can keep their things. You may also consider letting them decorate their space, but remember to follow any rules in the lease if you’re renting.
Provide them time to decompress
It can take time to adjust to a new home, so be sure you’re patient with them. One way that you can do this is to give them time to decompress when they switch homes. This can be something as simple as having a quiet movie night on transition day.
It’s also important for you to get the parenting plan set up so you and your ex know what you’re each responsible for. It may be best to work with someone familiar with these matters so you can ensure all important points are covered.