Parents should talk to their children about their divorce together because it gives a united front. It can be more manageable for children to come to terms with divorce when they have both parents telling them they are going their separate ways, but they still love them.
Additionally, breaking the news together can minimize confusion compared to having separate conversations.
Here is what you need to know to have a successful conversation:
Talk to your spouse
After you and your spouse are sure you want a divorce, you should discuss how to tell your children about it. Agree on when to have the conversation and what to say.
Presenting a united front when going through different emotions can be challenging. However, you and the other parent having an in-depth discussion beforehand can make the situation more manageable.
What if you can’t be in the same room?
If you and your spouse can’t be in the same room without fighting, it may be unwise to try and talk to your children about divorce together. It may be better to have separate conversations. Nonetheless, you still need to be on the same page about when and what to tell your children. Having contradicting conversations can confuse your children, a factor that can affect how they relate to both of you.
It’s typically best to talk to your children about divorce together. But when this is not possible, agree on how to handle the different conversations. Legal guidance can help you determine the best way to approach this matter.