You may never have imagined having to talk to your kids about divorce. When you married, you likely thought that you and your spouse would live happily together and that your children would only make your lives fuller. While that may have been the case for a while, problems in your marital relationship eventually became insurmountable.
Now, you and your spouse have decided to end your marriage, and you need to break the news to your children. You may worry over this conversation and how it will affect your kids, but you can take steps to discuss the topic with them as gently as possible.
Tell them together
Though you and the other parent may no longer get along well enough to stay married, it can be helpful to work together to tell your children about the divorce. By having both parents present, the children may feel more comfortable and know that it is a decision that you both made. This approach also gives the kids the opportunity to ask questions to both of you and for you to answer them together.
This task could act as the first test of how well you may co-parent after the divorce. If you can set aside your feelings now in order to work together for the good of the kids, you may be able to do that in the future as well.
Think about timing
You may want to tell the children quickly to get it over with, but you likely know a family discussion is necessary. As a result, you need to ensure that you talk to your kids when you have ample time to answer questions, offer reassurances and generally be there for them. You do not want to tell them and then immediately have to leave to address another obligation. The right time can differ for every family, and taking your children’s needs into consideration may help you find the right time.
Of course, you likely have many concerns about the situation yourself and undoubtedly have questions you want answered. In order to gain information on divorce matters, particularly child custody, you may want to consult with an experienced Delaware attorney. This legal professional can answer your questions, address your concerns and bring up information you may not yet have thought about yourself.
