Divorce isn’t easy, but it is a way to get out of an unhappy and potentially unhealthy marriage. For many people, the divorce is great, and things are amicable between them and their former partner, but for others, their spouse becomes increasingly problematic to interact with. It’s a complicated world to navigate, but there are some ways to deal with a difficult ex-spouse that will keep things cordial and significantly lower tensions.
Avoid Them
This step may be obvious, but you can’t understate its importance. Depending on where you live or work, you could see your ex-spouse more frequently than you prefer. If they’re already difficult, seeing them more often can exacerbate things as you try to move forward. Some great options for avoiding your ex-spouse are to:
- Stop shopping at the same stores
- Change jobs
- Move someplace else
- Find different friends
These seem like drastic options, but they are great for establishing a barrier between you and your ex-spouse. Avoidance may become more difficult if you share a child, but creating this separation can help you and them move forward.
Don’t Put Your Child in the Middle
After a divorce, the worst thing you can do is to put your child in the middle, turning them into a pawn in a game you and your ex-spouse are playing. No matter how abhorrent your ex-spouse may be, you still have to deal with them if you have a child together. It may not be fun, but it’s what you must do to help ensure your child grows up in a stable environment.
Turning your child into a vehicle for insults about the other parent will only hurt your relationship with your ex-spouse and negatively impact your child’s development. It’s essential to come to reasonable custody and visitation terms early on, and if any issues arise, resolve them as soon as possible. Letting them grow out of hand can turn an uncooperative ex-spouse into a difficult one that further gets in the way of your and your child’s happiness.
Seek Legal Assistance
In extreme cases, you may want to pursue legal action against your ex-spouse. Being difficult is terrible, but if left to fester, it can turn into stalking, harassment, and even violence. Talking about any situation with your ex-spouse is an excellent first step, but if it doesn’t work, they can become worse and resort to dramatic actions like not paying child support. If the situation ever gets to this level, nipping it in the bud is vital.
Your best option after your ex-spouse refuses to pay child support, and you’ve already tried talking to them, is to take legal action. It can seem dramatic, but it can prevent your ex from escalating matters and becoming more aggressive. If they’ve already jumped to harassment or violence, the legal avenue is the best way to protect yourself.
No one said that dealing with a difficult ex-spouse was easy, but there are right and wrong ways to go about it. Problematic ex-spouses are everywhere, but it doesn’t mean you have to live with the situation a is—there are options you can pursue. While they may vary in intensity, they’re still great ways to manage this situation.