Divorce can be a minefield for parents with young children. Although you and your partner may know that you are moving forward with the divorce process, it doesn’t mean your child is on the same page just yet.
You need to have this conversation with your child at some point. While it sounds simple enough to tell him or her about your divorce, this is easier said than done.
Timing is key when talking to a child about divorce. You need plan the best time to have this conversation, as well as when you should avoid discussing the subject.
The best thing you can do is set a time for both parents to explain what’s going on. Don’t attempt to do this during a family dinner, while your child is doing homework or during the drive to school. This is a sensitive matter that requires everyone’s full attention.
It’s better when both parents can announce their plans to divorce to the kids. This demonstrates that mom and dad are still on the same page, despite the fact that some things are going to change in the future.
It can be a challenge to discuss divorce with your child, but you want to get this out of the way as soon as possible. Once your child knows what is happening, you can help him or her come to terms with the situation and make the future less uncertain.
There are likely to be challenges during your divorce, but you can overcome them. With the assistance of your Illinois family law attorney, you can exercise your legal rights to pursue custody and/or visitation of your children.
Source: Baby Center, “How to tell your child you’re getting divorced (ages 5 to 8),” Ziba Kashef, accessed Sep. 01, 2017
