GG Parenting Series ~ Supporting Your Child Through A Divorce

Divorce Happens

Continuing with our GG Parenting Series, we would like to discuss ways Grandparents can support through a divorce. Unfortunately, divorce happens. GoodGrandma℠ has a few suggestions for helping your adult child, as well as your grandchildren, when a marriage ends.

• Supportive ~ Be willing to listen without lecturing. If you are able to offer financial support, state the amount and how it is to be used. Don’t enable them.
• Patience ~ Give your adult child time and space to work through emotions. Don’t ask a lot of questions.
• Encourage ~ Reassure your adult child and stay optimistic. Recommend professional counseling rather than being the therapist.

• Time ~ Spend time with grandchildren. While with your grandchildren, don’t speak ill of your child’s ex-spouse (their other parent). Listen to the children, answer their questions, but don’t offer information. And don’t forget, TIME heals wounds.
• Grieve ~ A divorce is the death of a marriage. Expect to see the grieving cycle: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Allow your adult child to express each emotion, but encourage them to spend less time at each emotion as they cycle through.

• Protect ~ Never put grandchildren in the position of a reporter, messenger, judge, or confidant. Allow them to be a child.

Divorce is never easy on anyone. We hope the information here has been helpful. If you have additional IDEAS you would like to share, please comment below. Thank you!