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Divorced Parents: 3 Mistakes and 3 Solutions for Building Character in Your Child

JeanTracy by JeanTracy Talking Back(November 2006) (rank 31st)
 

If you're a divorced parent, avoid these 3 mistakes and create these 3 solutions when building character in your child. Your child will reward you with respect, trust, and love.

My parents divorced. At the time my father confided, "It's just like a woman. When a man finally

puts some money aside, his wife wants half and gets a divorce." Dad forgot his part in causing the divorce. He forgot I was female, like my mother, and he forgot I loved my mother too.

If you’re a divorced parent, do you love your child more than you hate your ex-partner? Are you acting badly and would like to stop? Do you want to ease your child's pain? If so, begin building character in yourself.

Half your child's genes come from the other parent. This creates a serious bond between your child and your "ex." When you put down your former partner, your child feels put down too. Below are 3 mistakes and 3 solutions divorced parents need to consider.

3 Mistakes Divorced Parents Need to Avoid for Building Character in Their Child:

Talking hatefully about the other parent:

  • This encourages your child's support for the other parent.
  • This increases your child's contempt for the things you say.
  • This earns your child's disrespect for you.

 

Attempting to get your child to take your side:

  • This puts your child in the painful middle.
  • This causes your child to fight your attempts.
  • This encourages your child to take your "ex's" side.

 

Fighting with your "ex" in front of your child:

  • This causes your child's pain to deepen.
  • This fuels your child's anger.
  • This increases your child's insecurity and loneliness.

     

    3 Solutions Divorced Parents Need to Embrace for Building Character in Their Child:

      See things from your child's viewpoint. Hold your tongue in front of your child. Work on building your own character.
     

     

    If you're a divorced parent remember that half your child's genes draw from your former partner. Building character needs a balanced approach:

    • Let go of talking hatefully.
    • Let go of putting your child in the middle.
    • Let go of fighting in front of your child.

     

    You'll earn your child's respect. You'll earn your child's trust. You'll earn your child's love. You'll be building character too. 

     

  • Jean Tracy, MSS, "Granny Jean" publishes a FREE top-rated parenting newsletter. Subscribe and receive 80 FREE fun activities to share with your kids at  http://www.kidsdiscuss.com/contact.asp

  • Any contributed content above is the subjective opinion of that member or external author, and not of Minti.com Pty Ltd. If you are searching for health related advice we strongly suggest you seek professional medical support. View our Terms of Service for more details.
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    Advicenow
    November 2006 | Advicenow
    Family mediation
    If you find it impossible to resolve issues with your ex, family mediation may be a way of tackling issues such as when you can see your children and sorting out finances. Not-for-profit legal rights website Advicenow.org.uk has info on using family mediation to talk about and solve issues like these. They're currently running a web poll to see how much of a worry Christmas can be for separated/divorced parents - you can respond and give your comments here: http://www.advicenow.org.uk/go/familymediation/index.html


    Reply Reply Report
    Jessgore
    November 2006 | Jessgore
    Divorced Parents: 3 Mistakes and 3 Solutions for Building Character in Your Child

    And also don't speak about the new girlfriend/boyfriend in a bad way either......    Thank fully we are past that.. But we had French/English issues, and for some reason when I came on the scene anything english was no longer good.. My step daughter no longer wanted to watch her Disney movies because they were all in English, she did not want to learn any English, and she did not want to play with me because I did not speak French.    Thankfully when I learnt how to speak French, she actually realized that I was not as bad as I had been made out to be....   She would ask daddy questions like when am I going home blah blah blah....   But now I have the same respect she gives her parents and we get along fantastically...

    My most favorite moment was while sitting at the kitchen table at her grandmothers house (her mum's, mum's house), my hubby was writing out a check for I think summer camp... And she turns to her daddy while every one was listening "Hey dad, mum says your rich,".   I took my step daughter  for a walk while they discussed this matter as it seemed that we had just found the reason why she was asking daddy for the new game boy advanced, and every thing else in the Toys'R'Us catalog.



    Reply Reply Report
          JeanTracy
    November 2006 | JeanTracy
    Divorced Parents: 3 Mistakes and 3 Solutions for Building Character in Your Child

    Dear Jessgore,

    You have important experience and great advice. I know it's hard not to speak badly about the other person. It sounds like you were elegant in your approach.

    You were also quite kind and sensitive to take your step-daughter out while her parents discussed the money comment. Thank-you for sharing.

    Warmly,

    Granny Jean



    Reply Reply Report
               Jessgore
    November 2006 | Jessgore
    Divorced Parents: 3 Mistakes and 3 Solutions for Building Character in Your Child

    You are more then welcome...  We have had other issues along the way, it has not been easy, but thankfully as my step daughter gets older things get better... And now with her little brother here, well lets just say we are all having the time of our life... (Ok a couple of hiccups here and there but who doesn't get hiccups.)



    Reply Reply Report
    nomes
    November 2006 | nomes
    divorcing the spouse, not the children

    Our kids are so impressionable.  Remembering the problem is lies in the relationship with the spouse and not the children is so important.  Blackmail and causing guilt is only going to result in low self esteem and distrust.  Great article to help divorcee's keep focus on the issues that are really important.

     



    Reply Reply Report
          JeanTracy
    November 2006 | JeanTracy
    divorcing the spouse, not the children

    Dear Nomes,

    I second your comment that divorce problems are in the ex-couple's relationship and not the child's. It's hard not to burden the child with guilt or blackmail but it is important for the child's self-esteem to avoid both.

    Thank you for your insightful comment, Nomes.

    Warmly,

    Granny Jean



    Reply Reply Report
    dolphins30
    November 2006 | dolphins30
    Great advice
    I hopefully will never have to come across in becoming divorce, but some people have no choice in the matter and i have nothing against that, so this is very helpfull information to the people who are going thru it.


    Reply Reply Report
          JeanTracy
    November 2006 | JeanTracy
    Great advice

    Dear Dolphins,

    I agree that there are good reasons for some divorces. I hope you never go through one either. There is so much pain involved. I feel badly for those who experience it.

    Thank you for your comment, Dolphins.

    Warmly,

    Granny Jean



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