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How can I foster and protect my relationship with my children after a Virginia divorce?

A: It may take some work and patience but it is possible to repair your relationship with your children after a Virginia divorce. Marriages begin with the best of intentions and it's often heartbreaking if they end in dissolution in a Virginia divorce. They are even more painful when children are involved.

After a Virginia divorce, your relationship with your children will naturally undergo changes because of your family's changing dynamics. You can play an active role in helping ease your children into their new life situation and work towards repairing a relationship with them.

Honest, open communication is key to any healthy relationship, and should be a major focus when repairing a relationship with your children after your Virginia divorce. When sincere emotions are shared between a parent and child, understanding and healing can take place, which allows you to foster bonds with your children and begin truly repairing a relationship with them.

There are various things you can do to open the lines of communication with your children after your Virginia divorce:

Be informal - avoid making huge ordeals out of talking with your children and simply intertwine conversation amidst normal everyday activities.
Be an excellent listener - honestly listen to your children's concerns and feelings and try not to squelch communication by abruptly dismissing their input.
Practice empathy - try to hear and empathize with your children's emotions after your Virginia divorce to help them feel like you understand them.
Accept them - exercise authenticity when trying to repair a relationship with your children and accept that a spectrum of emotions is completely natural when going through a Virginia divorce.

A divorce can make children feel vulnerable and insecure. Regardless of the details of your Virginia divorce, with honesty and sincerity, you can work towards repairing a relationship with them. Your bonds with your children can act as the safe harbor they need as all of you adjust to your new family dynamics.

Contacting a Virginia Divorce Attorney

The decision to file for divorce usually comes at the end of a long and painful journey. In addition to the emotional turmoil involved, there's also a lot of fear and uncertainty about what the future holds. Concerns about children, mortgages, and even just paying the bills or buying groceries can easily become overwhelming.

A Virginia divorce attorney at Hofheimer/Ferrebee can examine the specifics of your case to help you decide how much support to ask for, what child custody arrangement will work best for you and your children, and how to fairly divide your marital assets. Request a FREE copy of our divorce book for women in Virginia, or reserve your seat at our monthly divorce seminar - 757-425-5200.

What Every Virginia Woman Should Know About Divorce is full of thoughtful steps and practical tips that will help you during your separation, divorce, or child custody case including:

-- 20 guidelines for "separation under the same roof"