Divorce And The Only Child

We all understand that divorce is tough on children – they often have to see their parents upset, travel between their parents’ homes, and grapple with larger issues regarding love and family. However, some researchers are now studying whether or not only children have a harder time handling divorce than kids with siblings.

How can siblings help each other during a divorce? In many cases, having brothers and sisters means having someone to relate to, someone to talk to, and someone to lend consistency to their lives. In other cases, it means having an alternate parental figure in an older sibling.

When an only child navigates divorce, they can often feel more lost and lonelier than kids who can identify with and observe siblings. In addition, studies have found that only children are often much closer to both of their parents – and seeing their parents split can be all the more painful if the only child feel excluded from literally all of his immediate family members.

What can the parents of an only child do to help them process their divorce in a healthy manner? Family and relationship experts say that knowing about the issue is a great first step. Realize that your child is feeling very left out, confused, and lonely – and that he or she may not have someone close to speak to. In addition, provide your child with the most information, support, and stability as possible during the divorce process.