Telling your children that you’re going to get divorced means having what can be a taxing conversation. Parents often put a lot of thought into when they want to have that conversation and how to set it up.
In addition, though, it’s wise to think about the questions that your children are likely to ask. You can prepare some answers in advance, but remember: Their concerns may be different than your own. They’re not worried at all about money, for instance, but may be very concerned about how they’ll see their friends in the neighborhood if they have to move. Here are some questions they could ask:
- Why are you getting divorced?
- Is this forever or would you and your spouse get back together later?
- Are they going to move? Are they going to a new school?
- What caused the divorce? Did they cause it?
- When is it going to happen? How long did you know you were getting divorced?
- Do they have to pick who they’re going to live with?
Children’s concerns often center around their own lives and routines. They worry about things like how they can transport their toys back and forth between two homes, for instance, that you don’t think much about as an adult. To reassure them, you need to have answers to their questions, even if those questions do not feel all that important to you.
That conversation is only the first step. As you and your family get closer to the divorce, you need to know exactly what legal steps you can take to protect your family and your interests.