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How to tell your kids about a divorce

On Behalf of | Jun 14, 2022 | Divorce

Ending a marriage is one of the hardest things that you’ll do as an adult. However, it’s worth remembering that your divorce is going to be difficult for your children to process as well. Therefore, it’s important to think carefully about how you will tell them about the fact that they may be living in more than one Texas home for the foreseeable future.

Try to present a united front

If possible, you should have your child’s other parent in the room when the divorce conversation takes place. This will help your son or daughter understand that the decision is final and that there won’t be a reconciliation in the future. It will also help your child to see that both parents will remain an active part of his or her life even after the split becomes official.

Don’t provide too many details

The only thing that your son or daughter needs to hear is that your marriage is coming to an end. Beyond that, you have full discretion as to what you want to tell your kid about the upcoming divorce. Ideally, you’ll simply let your child know that the relationship wasn’t working out and that he or she had nothing to do with the decision to end it. Saying as little as possible shields your child from learning anything that might undermine your ability to be a good parent.

It also prevents you from saying anything that might undermine your former spouse’s ability to be a good parent. This is important because it is generally much harder to raise kids who believe that they can pit their parents against each other for their own benefit.

Your child may experience a range of emotions after hearing that a divorce is coming in the near future. Therefore, it’s important to break the news gently and with reassurance that you are going to be there for your son or daughter. This may make it easier for your child to adjust to his or her new reality.

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