Many things happen during a divorce, but not all of them are expected. You might be so focused on ending the marriage that you don’t fully realize exactly how your life is going to change. You should try to remember these if you are planning on a split.
First, you will lose the partnership that you have with your spouse. You won’t have that person around to share in disappointments or successes with you. There isn’t going to be someone at home who can help you through challenges.
Second, you will likely have less time with your kids. At first, this might seem nice because you will get a break. You may realize that you don’t want those breaks and being away from them regularly is harder than you thought.
Third, you might grieve over the loss of an extended family. Even if you’re able to remain close to your ex’s side of the family, the dynamics of the relationship might change dramatically when the marriage ends.
Fourth, things like vacations and holidays will change. You might not be able to do the same things that you’ve always done. You and your ex will have to share the children on holidays. Finding new traditions may help, but there is a chance that you will still feel bad about the changes.
Finally, the things you’re able to do might change. This is due in part to finances, but might also be the result of logistical differences. The divorce settlement that you enter into might be able to address some of this, so you should ensure that you make decisions that are in your best interests.