What Is The Effect Of Divorce On My Children?
Infants and Toddlers
Loss of appetite
Upset stomach - vomits more
More fretful or anxious
More crying, clinging
Problems sleeping
Regression to infant behaviors
(back to diapers, thumbsucking)
May feel anger, without understanding
May worry when parent is out of sight
May withdraw, bite, or be irritable
Elementary School
Feels deceived and feels a sense of loss
Hopes parents will get back together
Feels rejected by the parent who left
Ignores school and friendships
Worries about the future
Fears being left at school
Complains of headaches or stomach aches
Has trouble sleeping
Experiences loss of appetite, sleep problems, diarrhea, frequent urination
Preschoolers
Too much time in fantasies
Feels uncertain about the future
Bedwetting
May feel responsible
May hold anger inside
Feels that he or she should be punished
May be accident prone
May become aggressive and angry toward parent he or she lives with
May have more nightmares
Experiences feelings of grief because of absence of parent
Pre-Teen and Adolescents
Feels angry and disillusioned
Feels abandoned by the parent who left
Tries to take advantage of parents' low energy
and high stress levels
Tries to take control of family
Becomes moralistic, or becomes involved in high-risk behaviors (drugs, alcohol, shoplifting, skipping school), extreme good or bad behaviors
May try to cut one or both parents out of her or his life
Feels like he or she will never be able to have a long-term relationship
Feels like he or she must grow up too soon
Worries about finances, including college tuition