Stereotypes surrounding children of divorced parents need to be set aside

Deciding to get a divorce is never an easy decision for anybody, but it tends to be particularly fraught for parents of young children. Parents understandably worry about what effect a divorce will have on their child’s development, education, and future opportunities. Some parents even worry that they are being “selfish” by feeling as though they are putting their own happiness before their child’s. However, a recent study is casting doubt on many of the assumptions that have been held about children of divorced parents and has shown that children raised by single moms are just as likely to succeed later in life as children raised in two-parent households, according to Canoe News.

Single-mom households

The stereotypes of children raised by single mothers is that they are unlikely to achieve a full education and enjoy a good income later in life. A recent Canadian study, however, has found that children who are raised by single mothers achieve the same level of educational and job success as those raised by two parents in one household. Perhaps even more surprisingly, the study found that children raised in stable single-mother homes were less likely to divorce later in life than those raised in two-parent homes. Because of a lack of data, the study did not consider children raised by single dads.

Although the study was conducted in Canada, researchers pointed out that American studies suggesting children of single moms are less likely to be well adjusted were skewed because those previous studies were largely based on teenage mothers, who tend to be at an economic disadvantage, rather than on mothers who were raising children after a divorce. The study suggests that divorce is far less of a roadblock in a child’s development than was previously believed.

Age matters

However, the study should not suggest that divorce is necessarily easy for children. As the Huffington Post recently reported, a child’s age is a big determining factor in how well he or she handles a divorce. Generally, children younger than three lack an understanding of divorce and tend to crave stability. If parents going through a divorce can mitigate the sudden change in lifestyle and routine then the child is likely to fare better.

Children between six and twelve, on the other hand, are more likely to blame themselves for a divorce or take the side of one parent over the other. The crucial thing to do in such cases is to make sure the child knows that he or she is still loved and that the divorce is not his or her responsibility.

Family law

Because divorce is such a difficult and stressful time, it is important to reach out for professional advice at every step. A qualified family law attorney can help smooth the process by bring years of knowledge and expertise that can help divorcing parents understand what options are available to them and feel as though their best interests are being well represented.