It’s important to plan out the conversation you have with your children about an upcoming divorce. This shouldn’t be a spur-of-the-moment conversation or something that you approach with little effort. It can have a major impact on how the children react to the divorce.
So what should you keep in mind for this conversation? Below are a few tips that will help.
Gather the whole family
If you and your spouse tell the children together, you’re able to present a united front. You can show the children that both of their parents will still be involved in their lives.
On top of that, you ensure that all of your children find out at the same time. You don’t want them to hear the news from a sibling or through the grapevine.
Avoid placing blame
Even if you technically do blame your spouse for the divorce, it’s best not to make any accusations when talking to your children. Don’t talk poorly about your ex, and don’t make the children feel like they have to pick a side.
Answer their questions
One mistake that some parents make is focusing on having a conversation where they merely give information to the children. This is good to do, but remember that the children are also going to have questions and concerns. Make sure that they are given a chance to talk and to ask these questions.
These tips can help at the start of the divorce process. Be sure you know about the legal steps you’ll need to take moving forward, especially when considering your child custody rights.
