Divorce and Adolescent Children

 Posted on June 05, 2013 in Divorce

Divorced parents may wonder whether their adolescent children behave the way they do because they are just at that age or because of the divorce. The truth is that it may be both, according to an article in the Huffington Post.

The teen years are a time when many kids start to become independent and establish an identity for themselves. This process won't simply happen overnight. In adolescence, children often begin to challenge their parents over chores and other tasks. But if a parent has built a reasonably good relationship with his or her child in the past, it is more likely that their relationship will continue to be civil.

Divorce often makes home life more difficult. Parents have their own worries to deal with and they may be stressed about being a single parent. The loss of the family unit greatly affects both parents and teens. While it may be relieving that they don't have to see their parents' fights any longer, many teens experience other problems in the aftermath of a divorce.

Some teens may view their parents' divorce as a big mistake, and they may have trouble trusting their parents anymore. However, teens do care about their mom and dad and worry about them – they just won't show it. They fear that showing their emotions will lead to more problems and their relationship to their parents might suffer.

Although it can be difficult to improve your relationship with your adolescent child, it is well worth the trouble. There are many ways a parent can achieve this. For example, try to think about things from your teen's perspective, stay positive and open, don't expect your teen to change instantly, and make more time for each other.

Divorce is always stressful for you and your children. Therefore, it is best to leave the legal details of your divorce up to an experienced lawyer. Please contact a dedicated divorce attorney in Austin, Texas today.