As if divorce isn’t difficult enough, there’s nothing more stressful than telling your children about your decision. You know that things will eventually settle down, but it’s hard to convey this to your children during such a challenging time in their life.
Here are some steps you can take to ease the tension when telling your children about your divorce:
Do it together: Even if you’re on bad terms, you and your spouse should sit down with your children to inform them of your decision. This shows a united front, while also giving both parents the opportunity to provide comfort.
Don’t go into details: It’s one thing to tell your children about your divorce. It’s another thing entirely to share the finer details, such as why you’re going down this path.
Be ready to answer questions: Your children are likely to ask you a variety of questions, some of which are more difficult to answer than others. The best thing you can do is be open and honest.
Take as much time as necessary: This isn’t the type of conversation you rush. Take as much time as necessary to work through the conversation and put your children at ease with what’s happening.
When you take these steps, you’ll find it easier for you to tell your children about your divorce. It’s never fun, but anything you can do to help your cause is worth considering.
Once your children know where things stand, you can turn your full attention to the divorce process and how you can protect your legal rights.