There is no easy way to break the news of a divorce to your children. For most Denver Colorado parents, and others across the country, this conversation is one that will be met with tears and heartbreak and an instant where you want to reconsider your decision. Most children will have the same questions about the divorce.
Children want to know “Why?” This may be asked in various forms, such as “Why are you doing this?” to “Why are you doing this to me?” but most want a valid reason for the breakup. Their fear is based in the fact that if their parents can simply stop loving one another, then what will keep them from simply not loving the kids any longer too. You don’t have to go into great detail as to why the two of you have decided to divorce.
Another question children will want an answer to is “Where will I live?” You should already have an answer to this question, which means you must have some sort of child custody plan in place. This might only be temporary, but you can’t simply tell your children that you’re not sure at this point. Let your children know which parent they will live with and what the arrangements are for visitations or joint custody. Choose your words carefully, even if the divorce is not going to be amicable. Keep the conflict between you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse just between the two of you.
Finally, children want to know “Is this my fault?” This is probably one question that is most common with younger children. They wonder if they had behaved better or kept their room cleaner, if the divorce would not have happened. Reassure your children the divorce is not caused by anything they did.
Divorce is never easy, but it can be less complicated when you are represented by an experienced divorce attorney. Contact an attorney to ensure your rights are protected in matters that involve child custody, child support, alimony and property division.
Source: huffingtonpost.com, “Children of Divorce: How to Answer Their Three Most Important Questions” Adriana Velez, Jul. 06, 2013