Cooperative Parenting Blog released “Divorce and Your Child’s Self Esteem” on January 21st, 2015. This post discussed the ways in which a child may associate the flaws of their parents as their own flaws. Children are likely to feel it is necessary that they defend their parents when these behaviors are attacked, and if they begin to feel there is something wrong with their parents they may start to feel that they also carry these flaws.
The blog discusses a solid marriage and how a positive relationship between their parents and themselves may help the child carry a positive self-esteem. When parents divorce, it is important to nurture the child’s self esteem by not placing them in the middle of the drama. The blog went on to discuss how negative comments or attributes about the other parent should possibly be discussed in private or kept to ourselves. Something as simple as eye rolling can cause issues with self esteem and negative associations.
The purpose of this blog was to ask parents who are going through a divorce or separation to not discuss their negative feelings about the other parent with their child present. This can place the child into the middle of unnecessary parental conflict, thus creating a tremendous pressure to pick sides. For more information about self-esteem and how it can be impacted by divorce, read the entire blog here.
Click here to read about a family law attorney in Vancouver WA who understands that family is a priority to you.