When it comes to the divorce process, there are many moving parts. If you have at least one child with the other spouse, there are a few additional steps you need to take.
Most importantly, you must make sure your child is in good hands at all times. You want him or her to be well protected during this difficult time.
Here are some of the many things you should say to your child about divorce:
- You didn’t do anything wrong. Many children will assume that they were the reason for the divorce. Make it clear from the start that this is absolutely not the case.
- You can feel however you want. Every child reacts differently to divorce, so you need to tell your child that he or she is free to express his or her emotions.
- Both of your parents are here for you. Don’t let your child feel that they are alone or that they have to choose one parent over the other. You want to keep things as normal as possible during this time, which means ensuring that your child has access to both parents.
These may not be the only things you say to your child about divorce, but they are definitely among the most important. When you make the right moves along the way, it’s much easier to keep your child feeling good about the future.
While you do your best to care for your child during this time, don’t forget about yourself. There are also steps you need to personally take to ensure that you are on the right track with the divorce process.
Source: The Huffington Post, “10 Things All Divorcing Parents Should Say To Their Kids,” accessed Aug. 29, 2017