Choosing to divorce is often a painfully difficult decision, especially for those with children. The trauma of breaking up a family can be very hard on children, and that is why some parents opt to stay together until the kids are ready to move out. For some in Minnesota, this may be a good arrangement, but for many more, staying together for the sake of the kids leaves them in a toxic marriage that can be even more damaging to the children than divorce might be.
Children can be quite intuitive, and many realize when something is wrong between their parents, even when the parents work hard to keep it from them. In fact, according to some counselors, remaining in an unhappy marriage may be setting a negative example for the children, and going through with the divorce may have some decidedly positive benefits for them, including:
- Minimizing the tension that often makes children want to be away from home
- Reducing the resentment they may be building against one or both parents
- Setting an example for how to make difficult changes and remain in a healthy relationship
- Offering them more time to appreciate their parents who are not distracted by personal issues
- Showing them that it is not okay to allow others to make them unhappy or mistreat them
- Allowing them to be kids again without the burden of their parents’ problems
Divorcing instead of staying in a difficult marriage may also minimize the conflict and toxicity the children are exposed to. Obviously, there will be a time of adjustment for everyone involved. However, in some circumstances, moving forward with a divorce may be the healthiest decision for the entire family.
