child sitting 1816400 1280

Keeping Your Child’s Spirituality After a Divorce


Divorce is not only difficult for the couples involved, but also for the kids. This life-changing event can affect them greatly as they get older. This also includes their beliefs on the sanctity of marriage.

If your family subscribes to Christian or Catholic beliefs, then you were most likely taught that marriage is sacred and only death can split a husband and a wife apart. This lesson is also passed on to children as soon as they’re old enough to understand the concept of lifelong matrimony.

So, when a divorce happens, a child’s spirituality may be affected. What should parents do to avoid this? Take note of these tips below.

Converse with your child and give them an outlet

Children also need healing in the during and after a divorce. They don’t adjust well in the midst of conflict, which may cause emotional trauma and prolonged feeling of abandonment. One way you can help them with this sadness is to constantly converse with them and ask them how they’re doing. That way, they’ll learn how to express their feelings—both positive and negative. They will appreciate being given an outlet where they can let out their sadness, guilt, and anger, especially if they live in a home wherein traditional Christian family values have been broken.

Give them the assurance they still have a family

You and your spouse may be apart, but it doesn’t mean your child has one less parent. Lessen their resentment toward their parents and God by making sure they still have a family to come home to.

Continue teaching them spirituality

Studies have shown that children are less likely to attend church weekly when their parents are divorced. So it’s clear how the life event will impact a child’s faith. Again, talk to them and teach them they can still turn to a higher being. You should also remind them that God isn’t to blame for your split with your ex-spouse.

If you can’t do this yourself, you can ask a religious leader to assist you, especially when the kids ask questions you might not be able to answer. They can also guide your family during this difficult time in your lives. Not only will they teach spirituality to your children, they will also impart lessons on compassion and forgiveness to aid in the healing process. After all, it is better to ask someone who’s knowledgeable of the topic.

The following two tabs change content below.
Mr. Hutton is a Divorce and Custody Lawyer based out of Round Rock, TX. His background is with child psychology at Arizona State University where he received a B.S. in 2006, and he continued this by working with the Children’s Right’s Clinic at the University of Texas School of Law where he received his J.D. in 2009. Throughout his practice, he has been a strong proponent of utilizing modern technology to improve his practice and the representation of his clients. He currently is the technology chair of CAFA of Travis County and is committed to improving and modernizing the practice of law in Texas. If you have any questions you can contact him at timothy.hutton@austintexaslegal.com

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *