You’re a dad who’s recently gone through a divorce and now you asking, “what now?” How do you pick up the pieces and move forward? What are some pitfalls to avoid and how can you maximize your relationship with you children and move toward a healthier relationship in the future?
Don’t Date for at Least Six Months
One of the most common mistakes men make is to fall into another relationship too soon. You may believe that the fault in your last marriage was entirely with your ex, but you would be best served to spend some time with yourself and with your children. Your kids will be pretty confused by the change in their lives. Don’t compound that by bringing another person into their world. In addition, you need time to develop a new way of being. Otherwise, you may end up with someone just like your ex.
Build Financial Stability
Chances are good that you just spent a bit of money on a divorce lawyer. If you have a good job, stay with it. In fact, if you can work some overtime and make some extra money, you should take the opportunity. You can expect some additional expenses as a single parent—your own home, kitchen, car, appliances, etc. And you may have a child support obligation. You may feel the need to get away and blow off some steam—resist the urge. You probably can’t afford a vacation, and you wouldn’t be good company to anyone else, anyway. You would likely spend most of your time mourning (or celebrating) your loss. Both activities can become tedious in a very short time.
Become Domestic
As a custodial or non-custodial dad, you can expect to spend a lot of time at home with your kids. Don’t build their lives around always eating out. Learn to cook and make it a family effort. You can have a lot of fun preparing meals with your children and you will build memories that they will always cherish.
Keep Your Children Out of It
If you have disputes with your ex, try not to discuss them in the presence of your children. It’s not wrong for children to see that their parents disagree, but things can easily get out of hand. Don’t put your children in the middle.
Contact Morgenstern & Rochester
At Morgenstern & Rochester, our two partners have almost 50 years of combined family law experience. We are a boutique family law firm that takes a hands-on approach. When you hire us, you will always work directly with one of our partners, never with an inexperienced associate or a paralegal.
To arrange a confidential meeting with an experienced Cherry Hill family law attorney, contact us online [Link to Contact Page] or call our office at 856-489-6200.