If you and your spouse have decided to part ways and move forward with the divorce process, it will not be long before you have to discuss this with your child or children.
While this is never simple, it is a conversation both parents need to have. Neglecting to do so could have a long lasting impact on your child, and that is not a risk you want to take.
First things first, make sure you and your former partner are on the same page in regards to the approach. Neglecting to do so could mean that both of you delivery a different message, thus confusing things for your child.
During the discussion, focus on the positives. For example, discuss the fact that both of you will still be in his or her life. Along with this, touch on the fact that life is not going to change that much on the home front.
Here is something to avoid: don’t place any blame on the other parent. While you may be doing this behind the scenes, it is not something your child should ever hear. When you place blame, your child may soon feel that they have to take sides.
These are just a few of the many things you can do when telling a child about divorce. You can take other steps, based on your personal situation, to ensure that everybody remains on the same page moving forward.
Divorce is never easy on a child, so make sure you do whatever you can to remove as much pain as possible.
Source: The Huffington Post, “How To Tell Your Children About Divorce In Ten Steps,” accessed Nov. 30, 2015
