After you and your spouse talk about plans to divorce, it’ll eventually be time to talk to your child. For the entirety of your child’s life, they have likely seen their parents together under one roof, but that’s about to change and they may need to be prepared.
You and your spouse may consider sitting down and talking to your child about what life will be like now that you’re seeking a divorce. Jumping into the fact that you and your spouse won’t be together anymore may only upset your child. Here’s what you should consider doing:
Find the right time to talk
Talking to your child about your divorce just before school or bed may leave them with uncomfortable thoughts that they don’t know how to deal with. You and your spouse may need to find just the right time to talk to your child. Some parents find it best to talk about big changes in life during dinner or just after school.
Be honest, but spare some details
Some difficulties in a marriage may be too inappropriate for your child to hear now and better if they heard when they’re an adult. There are likely many reasons you’re seeking a divorce, but your child doesn’t need to know the exact details. You may consider letting your child know that you and your spouse had different interests in life or conflicting opinions that led to the divorce.
Talk about what may change
A lot is going to change for you and your spouse, but so will your child’s life. They may need to change school, seek therapy or see one parent more often than the other. If you and your spouse are in agreement about your child custody order, it may be good to give your child some expectations for the future.
Let your child ask questions
Depending on the age of your child, they may have a lot of questions. It may be best to allow your child to ask all the questions they need to better understand the situation, even if you don’t have all the answers yet.
Your child may ask a difficult question that even you may not have the answer to. If you’re looking for answers when it comes to a divorce, you may need to reach out for legal help.