Breaking the News of a Divorce to Your Children

Divorce is one of the most emotionally painful and draining experiences people can endure. When children are involved, divorce can be even more difficult because the decision affects more than just you and your ex-partner. Despite the tragic nature of divorce, we know it happens now more than ever, and it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Plenty of adults and children can agree on the fact that divorce was a better option for their family than staying together, so keeping this in mind can help you relieve your guilt and stress when considering telling your children about your impending divorce.

Follow these tips for breaking the news of a divorce to your children:

  • Manage your emotions: If your children see you breaking down, they will take the news far worse than if you are calm, cool, and collected when explaining the situation.
  • Plan with your ex: Making sure you and your ex-spouse don’t have conflicting stories will save your children a lot of confusion and anguish. If their mom and dad are on the same page, the situation will seem a lot clearer.
  • Listen: Acknowledge and accept your children’s emotions. This situation may be traumatic for them, and the way you communicate will either help or hurt their ability to deal with the situation.
  • Keep it simple: Burdening your children with unnecessary details will only make the situation more confusing and painful. The younger your children are, the more succinct you should be. Make sure they know they are still loved, safe, and protected, and that those things will never change.
  • Provide answers: Your children will likely have practical questions, such as where and with whom they will live and if they will still be going to the same school. Prepare answers so you’re not caught off guard, and so they’re not left hanging.
  • Give them time: Divorce is a big change. Transitioning is not an overnight fix, nor can you expect your children to take it in good stride. Chances are, you will face some tears, yelling, and resistance, especially if your children were unaware of the problems in your marriage. Giving your children time to accept this new life is far more effective than forcing them to accept this decision immediately.

Our Long Island Divorce Attorneys Are Here to Help

If you are in need of a lawyer who can walk you through this process step by step and be the legal support system you’ve been looking for, look no further than Hedayati Law Group P.C. We are compassionate, experienced, and determined to make this transition as easy as possible for you and your family.

To schedule a consultation with a Long Island divorce lawyer at our office, call us or complete this online contact form.

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