In South Carolina, parents are generally allowed to have relationships with their children even after a divorce. However, raising a child after ending your marriage may present many challenges, and they may be exacerbated by the fact that older children may be more prone to rebelling or acting out in response to a dramatic change in their own lives.
Teens may be more likely to push you away
Older children who see their parents go through a divorce may respond by trying to push you out of their lives. This is partially because they feel like they have no choice but to look out for themselves. Generally speaking, children are taught that adults will always be there for them and that family bonds cannot be broken. However, a divorce might challenge those ideas and result in your teen losing trust in your capacity to provide adequate love and support.
Maintain a strong relationship with the other parent
The ability to work with your former spouse to create a unified front may make it easier to keep your child in line. By creating uniform expectations and boundaries, your teen is less likely to try to manipulate you or use other tactics to avoid facing consequences for violating the rules. It’s also important to understand that working together may be one of the requirements imposed by a divorce judge when crafting a custody order.
Your estranged spouse will be in your life for many years to come. Ideally, you will make a good faith effort to work with them as it may provide the stability needed to raise an older child.