Any time you’re going through a major life change, the people around you will feel the effects. This is true even if your children are grown and you plan to get a divorce. While your divorce won’t affect your children in regards to custody, it still has implications for your relationship in the future.
A divorce is complicated for adult children. Like with younger children, they may feel they don’t want to take sides but be spoken to as if they’re meant to. It’s vital to keep in mind that your children, at any age, are going to be affected by your divorce.
With those over 50 divorcing more commonly now than in the past, it’s not surprising that many people have grown children. The problem is that some parents reach out to their children as friends or peers, but they still need to consider the fact that these are their children who they raised with the other parent. Parents shouldn’t try to find solace in their children, because their children are going through a sense of loss as well.
Remember that your divorce can affect others, even if you’re not dealing with child custody in your present situation. Keep your children’s best interests at heart no matter their age; disagreements with the other parent and oversharing can hurt your relationships even if your children are grown.
This is just something to consider as you begin your gray divorce. With so much going on, it’s important to take time to consider how you’ll react to the reality of your divorce.
Source: The New York Times, “Never Too Old to Hurt From Parents’ Divorce,” Jane Gordon Julien, accessed June 07, 2018