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2 things to do when talking about divorce to your children

On Behalf of | Apr 25, 2023 | Divorce

Your children will eventually learn that their parents are going through a divorce. As their parents, it’s your duty to prepare your children for the future and this may be one of those times.

It won’t be easy talking about divorce to your children, but the following post could help you:

1. Consider what your children will understand

Children process information differently as they get older. If you have children of different ages, you may need to consider how you pass on information. In other words, you may need to explain what divorce is and how it will change your children’s lives differently depending on their age.

For example, a toddler likely won’t understand how much their lives will change once their parents’ divorce. They may also struggle with the changes, but they may be able to adapt quickly to a new environment compared to a teen. Furthermore, a teen may have a strong grasp of what divorce means and have more questions. They also may be combative or withdrawn after taking in the news.

2. Find the right time to have the talk

You may need to consider when to talk about your divorce to your children. While there’s no better time than the present, there are better times than others. 

For example, if your children are going to bed or school or a friend’s house, then you may want to wait to have the talk. Otherwise, your children could be left with feelings that they don’t quite understand and have questions unanswered. Instead, you may consider having the talk during lunch or dinner. These are both times when the family can be together and everyone can ask questions. 

If you’re going through a divorce and have children to consider, then you may need to learn about your legal options to ensure you have a favorable outcome when discussing both your divorce and child custody.