Grandparents have learned there are few things in life you can count on. One thing you can depend on however, life is constantly changing. Adapting to change is essential to good health, and although emotionally uncomfortable, it’s a necessity for maintaining your grandchild/grandchildren relationship. Sometimes, change in the family comes in the form of divorce. Although the divorce rate in the United States is statistically dropping, 40% of all marriages are still ending in divorce. The number of marriages affected by this will undoubtedly affect a greater number of grandparents. With this in mind, let’s go over some important reminders to ensure the grandparent/grandchild relationship remains intact, and stronger than ever.

Don’t Panic

First, remain calm. The emotional lightning of divorce can leave lives scorched. To minimize the impact of this change in the family, stay grounded. Your preschool grandchild needs your stability more than ever. Remaining focused on your grandparent/grandchildrelationship will ensure a calm transition with parents.

Learn to Bend

Secondly, be flexible. The relationship you’ve built with your preschool grandchild may be the glue that’s needed by the entire family even though, you may be asked to sacrifice some of your regular visits for a time, or be asked to accept a change in location for visiting. Keeping a positive outlook and allowing the dust to settle, will increase your chances for a quick return to normalcy in your preschool grandchild relationship.

Speak Up

Third, state your needs. Your grandparent relationship is important. It’s important to you, and to your grandchild, and whether parents realize it, important to them also. Calmly letting each parent know your scheduling needs, preferences for visitation times, and concern for continuity, will encourage a timely return to regularity.

Lives change. Positively accepting this change builds a healthy foundation for growth. Your patience and wisdom will help guide the new family structure toward healing restoration.