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Talking to Your Children about Divorce: What You Need to Know


— September 2, 2022

The best solution is to explain the situation in simple terms.


Talking about divorce is a sensitive subject not just to you and your spouse, but also to your children. You can approach this situation in many ways, but what are the best ones? That’s tough to say, especially if you have younger children who might not yet understand the concept of divorce.

Don’t worry, though. If you’re going through this emotional rollercoaster, this article will help you find ways to talk to your children about divorce and how to overcome any potential situation. If you’re one of those parents, keep on reading.

Think About What You Want to Say Beforehand

This is easier said than done, but it helps if you stop for a minute and think about your talking points in advance. Before you sit down to talk to your children, you must communicate to your partner how you want to break the news.

If you’re still having trouble with the divorce procedure, the first step is to contact lawyers to help with that. Once you settle on this aspect, it’s time to find a way to communicate this to your children. Usually, it’s best to have this talk while both parents are present; that way, your children will feel more comfortable. Additionally, this may help them avoid choosing one parent over the other in a brief time.

Questions You Need to Prepare for

Undoubtedly, divorce affects many aspects of your child’s life. When you prepare yourself to talk to your children about divorce, it will feel like you’re in court and your children will have many questions, such as:

  • Was this my fault?
  • Could I have done anything to prevent this situation?
  • Do I have to move?
  • Do I have to change schools now?
  • Who am I going to choose to live with?
  • Do my parents love me?

The best solution in such cases is to explain the situation in simple terms. Make sure that your conversation is age-appropriate and that you’re not speaking negatively about your soon-to-be ex-spouse, as this can affect your children’s fragile minds. Using simple language makes your children more likely to process the changes better, so they don’t have to worry about the adult details yet.

Image credit Danielle-MacInnes on Wunderstock (license).
Image credit Danielle-MacInnes on Wunderstock (license).

Depending on which state you live in, there are different regulations to custody, but whether or not you’ve decided on this aspect already, you need to involve a lawyer. For example, if you live in Los Angeles, the first step is to search for Los Angeles Custody Lawyers, as they will facilitate this procedure, so your children don’t have to deal with it.

Provide Reassurance and Support for Your Children

The divorce process is never easy, even for the parents themselves. Tough times call for desperate measures. Again, if you live in LA, you would benefit a lot if you search for Los Angeles Divorce Lawyers because this is a challenging period in your life.

However, you need to remember that parents are not the only ones who go through divorce. Your children are also affected in many ways. That’s why you must provide reassurance and support every step of the way because they may feel scared.

You also need to be prepared to explain the future changes in their lives, encourage them to ask questions freely, and listen to whatever they say. Most importantly, avoid making your children feel like the divorce was their fault.

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