It can sometimes be difficult to tell your children that you’re getting a divorce. You may know that they don’t want it to happen and that they value the stability that comes along with their parents being married.
However, you may still understand that divorce is the best decision for your family. You just need to know how to break the news to your children. Here are some tips that can help.
Answer their questions
First and foremost, give the children time to ask questions and then make it a goal to answer those questions. They’re probably going to be much different than the things you would be worried about as an adult, but children have their own set of concerns. If you take the time to address these, it helps things go smoothly, and the children still feel supported.
Tell them at the same time
If you have more than one child, it’s best to tell all of your children at once. You don’t want them to find out about the divorce from someone else. If you utilize this type of family meeting to break the news, you guarantee that everyone is on the same page.
Understand that it takes time
It can simply take time for children to process the fact that their parents are getting divorced. They may not have understood that it was coming, and they may not see all the benefits that you do. They may also not have noticed the negative events that pushed you and your spouse to divorce in the first place. Over time, they will generally settle into this new routine, and it will get much easier for them.
There are also many legal steps you can take to put your children first as you work through the divorce process.
