If you and your spouse intend to get divorced, you may have concerns about how ending your relationship will unfold as you divide your property, separate into two homes, etc. You may also have concerns regarding how your children will take the news and react to this major change.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2020, 630,505 couples in the U.S. divorced and many of these couples had children. Although divorce is a common experience in many families, you should carefully prepare how you will tell your children about your plans to end your marriage.
Deliver the news jointly
Do not leave the responsibility of telling your children about your divorce to your ex or vice versa. Sit down at a time when your children are all together and tell them about your plans with your former spouse.
Put together a script
Talking to your children about your divorce may be more difficult than you originally anticipated. For this reason, consider writing out a general outline or script that covers what you will tell your children.
Accept all responses
Your children may not react how you expect to the news of your divorce. Remember that your children will experience many different emotions and prepare to handle any type of reaction during the conversation.
It can take time for your children to adjust to your plans to divorce and all the changes that come with it. In the days following this conversation, plan on providing your children with extra attention and emotional support to help them cope.
