How Marital Issues Can Affect Your Children

Going through marital issues is never easy for any of the parties that are involved. Working through devastating issues that may compromise your marriage can be stressful and emotionally taxing. Not only does this affect you and your partner, but your child may be having a difficult time dealing with this as well. Witnessing their parents fight and argue can have several unintended effects. If you and your partner are going through harsh times but believe there is hope to replenish the love you once shared for the sake of your children, Dr. Joel Kuppersmith, a Huntington marriage counselor, can help you.

Problems With Academic Performance And Behavior:

Children often feel as if their world has been turned upside down after witnessing their parents go through marital issues. They may not fully understand why there is constant duress in the household or even make the assumption that this situation is their fault. Teenagers coping with their parent’s marital issues at home may harbor spiteful feelings towards one or both of their parents, thinking they must involve themselves to stop the fighting. Because of this, their academic performance and overall behavior can vastly differ from what it was prior. 

This monumental change in their life can cause an abundance of emotions they haven’t yet learned how to manage. Sometimes, acting out in school or at home is the only form of outlet they know.  Our Huntington Marriage Counselor can help to ease the tension in your household by offering advice on how to manage the bevy of emotions that your child is experiencing.

Their schooling can also suffer as a result of these issues at home. On its own, going to school can be a very stressful time for children, since they’re under a lot of pressure to do their best. From social anxiety to large workloads and pressure from teachers, a school can often be the last place they want to be during this difficult time. Throw on top the added stresses of a changing life after the thought of their parents potentially not being together. 

This can be a perfect formula for dysfunction. With everything happening at home weighing your child down, their focus may not be on their education, causing grades and performance to slip. We strongly advise you to sit down with your child and discuss the importance of their school work. Remember to help them maintain an overall positive attitude. 

Long-Term Effects that Marital Issues can Have on your Kids

If these issues persist for a long time without resolution, your parenting will be crucial to your child’s healthy development moving forward. As they grow up, children of parents with marital issues or divorce can have difficulties developing relationships. Adults who lived in unstable homes as children are more likely to have a marriage end in divorce themselves. To combat this, Dr. Joel Kuppersmith, a Huntington marriage counselor, can offer the below advice on parenting during your marriage counseling process:

• Co-parent peacefully.
• Don’t put your child in the middle.
• Maintain a healthy relationship with your child.
• Monitor adolescents closely.
• Use consistent discipline.
• Teach specific coping mechanisms.

Dr. Joel Kuppersmith – Huntington Marriage Counselor:Though constant arguing and disagreements may just become a formality for you and your partner after a while, you may not realize the toll it can take on others living under the same roof. Dr. Joel Kuppersmith, a Huntington marriage counselor, has over 30 years of experience with marital issues. He can help you and your spouse work through your marital issues as well as give helpful advice as to how to prevent your children from being dragged into this stressful time. If you have been experiencing marital issues with your spouse and it is beginning to affect the well-being of your children, be sure to contact Dr. Kuppersmith today can help ease your stress.