You’re going through a divorce and you must talk about it to your children. This conversation can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be overly difficult.
You may need to consider the following when talking about divorce to children:
Talk about what will change early
It will take some time for your children to understand how divorce works and how it affects their lives. You can prepare your children by talking about the changes that will come following your divorce.
You may want to talk about how your children will only see you part of the month while they live with their other parent, for example. Or, you may talk about how your children will have to change schools.
Let your children ask questions
Children learn by asking questions. Divorce is likely a new topic for them. So, they may ask questions related to what divorce means. Or, your children may ask why the divorce is happening.
It’s often important to answer your children’s questions. Some questions won’t be easy to talk about, such as what caused the divorce. If you get these questions, you may want to answer in a way that doesn’t reveal exactly why it’s happening, such as differences between you and your spouse.
Remind your children that your divorce was not their fault
Many children come to the quick conclusion that your divorce is happening because of them. Perhaps they believe that something small and insignificant caused the divorce, like not going to bed on time.
This is a natural conclusion for children. You can combat this belief by reminding your children that your divorce isn’t caused by them.
It can help to understand your legal rights when talking about divorce to your children. Knowing your rights can give you a better idea about what will change once everything has been finalized.