As the number of children with special needs goes up, so will the scores of those kids who have to deal with divorce. Even though the phrase “special needs” is an umbrella term that fits many kids, the most at-risk in these scenarios are those with behavioral or mental issues.
They are the ones who can’t properly processes what is going on — “Why are my parents leaving?” “Was it my fault” — through communication. So when trying to talk to your special needs kids about your divorce, here are some tips to help you out:
Keep Things Stable Things are already tense enough with the ever-changing scenario your divorce is presenting your kids. If one of you were the child’s primary care-giver, now is not the time to change things up.
Watch Your Moods Speaking of tension in the house, special needs children pick up on their parents’ moods more than non-special needs children. If you notice an uptick in moods like anxiety and withdrawal, step back a second an wonder if you might be partly responsible for it.
Don’t Move Into A Relationship Too Quickly As a parent of a special needs kid, you know how long it takes them to get comfortable with a new teacher or medical provider. Bringing in someone new quickly will confuse them and, worst of all, open them up for heartbreak if they aren’t the one. Make sure they’re a keeper before bringing them home to meet.
Image courtesy Dr Tr @ Flickr.