The Fate of Your Children After Divorce in Stardew Valley: A Comprehensive Guide
When navigating the charming yet sometimes challenging world of Stardew Valley, divorce can become a harsh reality for some players. While the financial and emotional ramifications of dissolving a marriage are significant, one of the most pressing questions many players have is: what happens to the children? Rest assured, unlike real-life scenarios, your digital children in Stardew Valley are not caught in a custody battle. In short, your children will remain at the Farmhouse following a divorce. They continue their toddler existence, unaffected by the legal separation of their parents. However, that’s not the end of the story. Let’s delve deeper into the specifics.
The Children’s Post-Divorce Life
Your children, once they’ve reached the toddler stage, will continue to go about their usual routines. You’ll still find them around the farmhouse, often near the space where their parent used to be. They attend festivals, which adds a touch of normalcy to valley events. They don’t recognize their parent is missing, or if they do, it doesn’t impact their daily interactions. They will not interact with other NPCs, nor with the ex-spouse who no longer lives with them. They are, in a sense, frozen in their cheerful toddler life. This lack of change can be both comforting and a little surreal. While your ex-spouse is going through a change, the children remain untouched, a fixed point in a player’s otherwise turbulent virtual world.
A Note on the Ex-Spouse
While the children are physically present, the ex-spouse moves out, returning to their previous home in the valley. The game creates a significant shift here, with negative interactions, and a refusal to accept gifts. They remember the broken marriage and express their discontent. It’s a stark reminder of the consequences of your actions, adding an element of emotional realism to the game. The only way to change this is to involve the Witch’s Hut later in the game.
Related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To provide further clarity, here are some frequently asked questions about divorce and children in Stardew Valley:
1. Do children leave the farmhouse after a divorce?
No, children will remain at the farmhouse after a divorce. There is no change to their location or routines within the game. They do not leave with the ex-spouse, ensuring you continue to see them every day.
2. Can the ex-spouse take the children?
No, the ex-spouse does not take the children in a divorce. The children will stay in the Farmhouse. There is no feature in the game that allows for any form of shared or contested custody.
3. Does the divorce impact my children’s happiness?
No, while the divorce will drastically impact your relationship with your ex, it doesn’t affect your children’s happiness. They continue to act and behave as usual, still present during your daily routine.
4. Do my children recognize the absence of their other parent?
There is no indication that children recognize or are impacted by their other parent’s absence. They don’t have dialogue options that reflect the change. Their behavior and routines remain unchanged.
5. Can I interact with my children’s ex-parent after a divorce?
Yes, but interactions are limited and negative. Your ex-spouse will not accept gifts and will have a single, bitter line of dialogue when you talk to them. The negative consequences are there to remind you of the divorce.
6. Do my children ever grow up in Stardew Valley?
No, children will not grow beyond the toddler stage. They will remain at this developmental point indefinitely. Stardew Valley does not incorporate a mechanism for children to age into teens or adults.
7. Is it possible to have more than two children?
No, you can have a maximum of two children in Stardew Valley. After the birth of the second child, your spouse will no longer ask about having more children.
8. What if I want to have more children with a different spouse?
If you want more children, you would need to divorce your current spouse and remarry another character. However, your children will always stay at the farm, regardless of the new marriage. Remember, you can only have a maximum of two children at a time.
9. Can I remarry the same ex-spouse after a divorce?
Yes, you can remarry the same ex-spouse. You will need to visit the Witch’s Hut and erase their memory of your past relationship. Once that is done, you can re-date and propose once more.
10. Does remarrying wipe my children’s memory of their other parent?
No, even if you remarry your ex and wipe their memory, your children will continue their toddler lives, unaware of these complex adult affairs. Their routine, location and appearance will remain the same.
11. Do children attend all festivals?
Children will attend the majority of festivals, but their participation is limited to their presence near your spouse or, after a divorce, near the family farm house. They are part of the scenery and don’t interact with the events beyond that.
12. Does my choice of spouse affect my children’s appearance?
No, your choice of spouse has no effect on your children’s appearance. The children’s appearance will follow a set pattern – the first child will have a random gender, and the second will be the opposite gender.
13. Can my children leave the Farmhouse?
No, your children will never leave the Farmhouse besides attending festivals. Their life in the game is limited to the space they’ve always inhabited.
14. How do I get the option to have children?
After marriage, you will be periodically asked if you wish to have a child. Saying yes will result in a baby in the crib. After fourteen days they will grow into toddlers.
15. Can I get divorced after having children?
Yes, you can get a divorce after having children. You will have to visit Mayor Lewis’s house and pay a 50,000g fee for a divorce. This doesn’t change your children’s presence on the farm.
Conclusion
In the sometimes turbulent landscape of Stardew Valley, divorce is a costly, emotionally charged event, but your children are one aspect of farm life that will remain static through it all. They continue to live on the farm, always toddlers, untouched by the drama of parental separation. While your ex-spouse might not be so forgiving, your children will continue their daily routines, bringing a certain continuity to your life on the farm. Navigating the consequences of your in-game choices might be difficult, but knowing your children are safe and provided for can make the process a little bit easier. Understanding how these aspects function ensures that you can make the decisions that best fit your Stardew Valley journey.