Divorce is a tough time for two people who have decided to finally part ways, and one of the biggest hurdles to face would be telling the children about it. Telling them about the separation is just the tip of the iceberg. Many concerns are involved both personal and legal such as child support and custody. Find the best family law attorney who can take care of the legal matters. If you find someone who is experienced in dealing with family issues like child support or child custody to have, that will be one thing off your chest. Dealing with how children will react to the separation is the harder part. Let these tips guide you through this rough time.
Prepare in advance before telling the kids
Telling the kids that you are separating should not be delayed especially when they already sense the tension at home. The parents going through a divorce should first plan how and when they are going to break the news to their children. It is best to talk when both parents and all children are present. There may be a barrage of questions after the announcement so both parents should be ready how to answer them. The children may need some time to process what just transpired so the parents can tell them that either of them can be approached when they need to. But it is important to be conveyed to them that they are loved and will be taken care of despite the separation.The divorce situation will be very confusing for the children especially when you have younger ones. It is vital to use age-appropriate words when talking to your children about the divorce.
Keep the daily routines the same
If you can keep predictable routines as they are, then the better for your children. It will somehow retain the calm and order in their lives. Daily activities such as school drop-offs and pick-ups and bedtime should be kept as normal as possible. Visits with family and friends and the children’s extracurricular activities should be done as they were for the kids to feel that nothing has completely changed.
Do not talk negatively about each other to the kids
Parents should avoid making critical comments about each other when talking to the children. Avoid blaming the other parent and never try swaying your children to your side. What is essential to the kids is that they know that they will still be loved and protected by their parents and the divorce has nothing to do with them or what they did.
Have a strong support system
During these trying times, the parent who will be left with the children should have a great support system. It is better if the school teachers know what the children are going through so they can also give them proper attention. Family relatives such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles, as well as other influential people to the children, should be told how they should talk with them and answer the questions they may have. Also, do not hesitate to get professional help when needed.
Divorce is hard enough to bear for the adults involved more so for the children who are caught up in the situation. Dealing with them should be taken with proper care when they are going through hard times such as this. May these tips guide you to smoothly traverse through this tough transition in life.
