If you and your spouse have decided to end your marriage, you may have concerns about what lies ahead, especially if you have children. You may worry about how your children will cope with the news of your divorce and adjust to new routines.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2020 in the U.S., 630,505 couples annulled their marriages or got divorced, and many of these couples faced similar challenges if they had children. The following strategies can help you tell your children about your plans to divorce.
Plan what you will say
Avoid going into the conversation without thinking about what you will say beforehand. Work with your spouse to come up with a script or main points when you tell your children that you plan to get a divorce.
Choose a good time for the conversation
Your children may remember when you told them about your plans to divorce for years to come. Avoid having this conversation on a significant day, such as one of your children’s birthdays or the night before one of your children has a performance.
Prepare for many emotions
Your children may exhibit many emotions when you tell them about your divorce, and you may feel unprepared for some of them. Prepare yourself to handle whatever emotions your children experience, whether they are angry, sad, or relieved, for example.
In the days following this conversation, provide extra attention to your children. You may also want to reassure them that no matter what, both you and your spouse still love them and will be there for them.