Telling Children About Divorce

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Telling children about divorce

There is no easy way to tell your children about divorce, and there are no hard and fast rules.

Telling your children you’re going to split up can be a daunting task. It may be something you have been considering for a while, or it may be quite sudden, but either way it is one of the most difficult conversations for a parent to face.

There is no easy way to tell your children and there are no hard and fast rules. Every family is different and much depends on the relationships between family members before the separation. However, there are steps you can take to make the whole experience as positive as it can be.

Who should tell the children?

This decision depends on the state of the relationship between you and your ex-partner. If you’re still amicable enough to be able to tell the children together, this is beneficial for everyone. If both parents are present, the children can be given a more balanced view and you can both answer any questions they may have.

If your relationship has become very hostile it may no longer be possible to tell your children together. When emotions are running high, it can be hard to give a balanced view and you risk letting your feelings get out of control in front of your children. If this is the case, it may be in your children’s best interests that you put your feelings to one side long enough to agree on which one of you will tell the children.

How should you tell the children?

There is no ‘right’ way to tell children you’re splitting up and it’s important to bear in mind that you will probably feel nervous, upset and confused yourself. These feelings are completely natural, after all you are just a parent trying to do your best in a difficult situation.