Two Happy Homes Are Better Than One Toxic Home

Many parents decide to stay together for the children because they worry that coming from a “broken” home will have a negative impact on them. Doing some extra work to ensure children come out on the other side of divorce in one piece is worth it. Two happy homes are better than one toxic home for them overall, especially if the marriage involves a toxic, abusive environment.

It’s a restructured home, not a broken home.

The idea that a home is broken simply because of divorce is false. Two separate, post-divorce homes can be just as whole- and even happier- than one toxic home. When a child grows up in a stressful home environment, full of constant bickering, complaining, and even physical and mental abuse, they can mimic that type of behavior in their own adult relationships.

Choosing to separate and build two loving, secure, happy homes is actually a much better option for children overall. While it’s true that some children need a little extra help during and after a divorce, such as academic intervention services or a therapist, most of the time this extra help is only necessary for a year or two. After that initial period of adjustment, many children of divorced parents thrive and go on to live perfectly happy lives.

Security is key for children after a divorce.

The biggest thing that children struggle with after a divorce is a feeling of insecurity. Their entire lives are flipped upside down, and many have to change homes, schools and leave some of their friends behind. The most important thing parents can do during this time is to provide their children with as much security as possible.

That security is created through a positive co-parenting relationship, open communication so that your children feel like they can express their feelings and a constant reminder of your love for them. Although the physical circumstances of their lives may be changing, the emotional circumstances will only be improving. That knowledge can go a long way in providing a sense of security for children during this period of transformation.

Just because you’re divorced doesn’t mean your children will get divorced.

Some believe that their divorce will somehow “rub off” on their children. It’s not divorce that causes damage to children, though. It’s how you and your ex handle the divorce.

If two parents choose to separate with respect and do their best to co-parent effectively, children of divorce actually fare far better than children whose parents chose to stay in an unhappy marriage. Those who live in a toxic environment are exposed to more conflict on a regular basis. Constant conflict growing up is what makes it difficult for them to have healthy relationships as they grow into adulthood. Children from divorced homes aren’t actually more likely to divorce. Those who come from a family with a high level of conflict are.

A happy home starts with you.

Deciding to get a divorce is not easy, but once you do make that decision, you don’t want it to be in vain. This is your second chance at building the happy home both you and your children deserve.

There are some things you can do to make your new home successful:

  • Respect your co-parent, even when they are difficult to deal with.
  • Encourage positive communication in your household. Always give your children a safe space to speak openly with you about their feelings.
  • Keep other aspects of your children’s lives as consistent as possible, for instance, allow them to engage in their normal extracurricular activities. Stay in touch with their friends. Have a consistent before and after school routine.
  • Ensure they have positive, adult role models in their life, especially if your co-parent is lacking in that area.
  • Teach them positive ways to cope with their feelings.
  • Support their desires to grow and change. So that they learn to appreciate the decision you made to move on and be happy.
  • Seek professional help for yourself and your children whenever it’s needed.

A toxic home environment can be detrimental to children. While the adjustment period after a divorce can be challenging, with the right tools and a little bit of time, you’ll find that two happy homes are much better for you and your children than one toxic home.

More Split.fyi Resources:

Are you are ready to join our online Split.fyi Communitywe would love to have you! We have several experts in there waiting to help. Plus other divorcees you can connect and share stories with. Remember that you are not alone, even though it might feel like it at times. There are always people ready to support you- simply reach out your hand (or finger if you’re scrolling online!)

We get your struggles… We welcome you to visit our  Split.fyi Support hub where we have created an informative and nurturing space using various modalities for you to get educated, emotionally supported and find your way. Our complimentary support groups like Coffee Talk and SOS: Support on Saturdays can be found here, along with many other helpful tools and resources.

Get more of Split.fyi! Straight to your inbox weekly. You’ll be the first to know the best divorce resources, professional advice, upcoming digital and live events, supportive insights, and current divorce pitfalls to avoid. Better ways to live apart are right here. Sign up for the Split.fyi Newsletter.

Essential Resources

If you’re facing legal/custody battles, a mental health crisis, an urgent medical issue, serious emotional problems, including suicidal thoughts, please seek help from the appropriate professionals near you.

Suicide hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
Crisis line: 1-800-356-5395
Crisis text line: Text “help” to 741741
The National Domestic Violence Hotline
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)

Split.fyi Resources
Split.fyi Marital Life Inventory
Divorce Lifecycle Document
Divorce Process Overview

Contact

323 San Vicente Blvd., Unit 1
Santa Monica, 90402

info@spitfyi.com
310.558.2575

Have a question for us?
Please visit our contact form

Coffee talk:
join our weekly divorce support group hosted every Friday morning at 9 am PST.

JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP
SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTER

Follow Us

Splitfyi, Inc. DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE. All information provided should not be construed or relied upon as legal or tax advice. Individuals seeking legal or tax advice should solicit the counsel of competent legal or tax professionals knowledgeable about the divorce laws in their own geographical areas.

Copyright © 2022 Split.fyi | All rights reserved

×

Install our App!

Click the share icon in your browser toolbar, then click “add to home screen” to install our app.