Divorce can be very traumatic for children. They are seeing their parents separate forever which goes against the norm of growing up with your parents in love. It is important to speak to your children about your divorce in a gentle way and to ensure that you are all still a family.
What is the Best Way to Communicate with Your Child About Divorce?
It is important to try to have a positive attitude with your child when talking about divorce. Reassure your child that everything will be okay and avoid speaking harshly about your ex-spouse. Remember that your children still think the world of him or her so you need to be sensitive to that. Also, let your child know that they are not the reason for the divorce.
How Do I Prepare For Questions?
Your kids are most likely not going to just answer your divorce with a simple “Okay.” This unexpected and shocking news will come with a lot of questions. Expect to be asked questions about where your children will live, if you have to move, and why you are getting a divorce. It may be tough to answer these questions as you may not have figured out everything yet. Just answer these questions in a way that they understand so that they feel confident that everything will be fine in the end.
Why is it Important to Listen to Your Children?
If your children are younger, they will most likely not be afraid to show you how they really feel like if they cry, lash out in anger, or show confusion. Respond to their emotions like holding their hand or offering them a hug. If they are older, it is possible they may not be as open. They may tell you they feel fine when they really are not to make it easier for you. Look at the emotion on your child’s face and do not ignore it no matter how hard it may be for you.
How Can You Minimize Changes To Your Daily Routine?
Divorce will come with many changes, but they are some things that can stay the same. Make sure that their school schedule is still the same, like when to wake up and who is driving them. The most important thing to make divorce less traumatic on a child is to keep the love.
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